RNMKRS PITCHPERFECTOR: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO BOOSTER STUDENTS’ SELF-EFFICACY IN DELIVERING ELEVATOR PITCH
José Luis Saavedra Torres, Conor Heath
Abstract
This article investigates the usage of an AI bot app called RNMKRS PitchPerfector to teach the sales skills necessary to deliver a successful elevator pitch. In particular, we wanted to know if the use of this app could increase student self-efficacy toward this critical selling skill. To analyze if RNMKRS had a real impact on students’ elevator pitch self-efficacy, surveys were administered before and after the implementation of the RNMKRS assignment. In addition, class modality (online asynchronous and in-person) was tested to identify potential differences in self-efficacy growth. We found that the usage of RNMKRS did increase student self-efficacy in the delivery of an elevator pitch. That impact was not influenced by classroom modality suggesting that it would be equally effective for an in-person class as it would be in an online asynchronous course. Finally, we discuss the challenges that we faced implementing RNMKRS with students.