The Personal Field Trip: WIL/EL Out of Class Experience
Angela Lyrette; Algonquin College; Durham College; Seneca College; and University of Ottawa
Overview Video
Author(s): Angela Lyrette
Affiliation: Algonquin College
Level: Diploma / Advanced Diploma, 2nd year
Learning Outcomes
- Identify basic expectations for customer satisfaction.
- Identify environmental factors that contribute to customer satisfaction.
- Create and use a customer service rating checklist.
Summary
Customer experiences are difficult to evaluate. Organizations sometimes use third-party “mystery shoppers” to evaluate team members. In class, we examine factors such as the look and feel of an organization as well as the specific actions or questions service professionals use to provide positive customer experiences.
Following this activity, students create a “Mystery Shop” observational checklist that they will use either in their own financial institution or one they might be interested in doing business with. They begin their observations before they enter the premises and include assessments for how they make students feel, as well as how they conduct their visit.
Students gain increased awareness of the importance of workplace environment, office culture, and for those not working part-time in the service industry, the difficulty, and complexity of even the most basic customer experience role.
In the weeks leading up to this assignment, students review and discuss mystery shop reports from a variety of industries, including financial services. They practice writing customer complaint letters and subsequent replies. A few weeks after the assignment, the lesson on career preparation reinforces the strategy of visiting a potential employer/workplace to see and experience (if possible) if it is a good fit.
Citation:
Lyrette, A. (2022). Mystery Shop Assignment. In Seneca College, Durham College, Algonquin College, University of Ottawa (Eds.), Rethinking Assessment Strategies for Online Learning – Exemplar Collection. Open Library. Retrieved May 26, 2025, from https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/rethinkingassessmentexemplarcollection/
