Why, and Why Not to use Simulations in Learning
Why, and Why Not to use Simulations in Learning
Why, and Why Not to use Simulations in Learning
By Sarah Le-Fevre
October 06, 2022
Summary
The earliest simulations with a focus on learning and improvement were wargames, and it could be argued that modern learning simulations, or even games-based learning as a field, has grown out the need for combatants to understand past strategies, and to develop and test new ones.
The term 'simulation' is also used to describe a subset of learning tools which enable 'learning through doing' in the sense of practising skills - including flight simulators, patient simulators, and the like.
In the context of learning games, a simulation is designed to replicate situations that occur in real life for the purposes of analysis, planning or experimenting with options.
In the earlier days of games-based learning, it was a common strategy to call a game a 'simulation' to mitigate any potential objection from clients about games being 'childish' or trivial, or not being appropriate in a professional learning setting.
A game designed to create learning on making decisions with limited information uses financial results as a measure of 'success', but should not necessarily require the players/learners to dwell on 'real' financial documents, unless reading and interpreting financial documents is actually a focus of the learning.
If a learner is very familiar with the simulated situations and they perceive them to be 'lacking' in some way, either because they are not 'accurate' enough or that they lack proper detail, this may have an adverse impact on how receptive they are to the outcomes from the simulation, and any learning they might derive.
If a specific learning programme focused on leadership competencies, within the context of a retail environment, it would make sense to simulate much of the retail environment, because learning would be achieved by enacting relevant behaviours.
Reference
Le-Fevre, S. (2022, October 06). Why, and why not to use simulations in learning. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://ludogogy.co.uk/why-and-why-not-to-use-simulations-in-learning/