Simulations in Social Studies

Simulations in Social Studies

Agenda

• What is a Simulation?

• Types of simulations

• Why use Simulations?

• How to incorporate simulations in our classrooms?

• Limitations

• Resources

• References

What is a Simulation? A model of reality

A simulation is an open-ended experiential scenario where the students are placed in a model of the real. Students take roles, make decisions, resolve conflicts, and make predictions to gain a deeper understanding of concepts and events.

Simulations:

• Can be repeated, so that students can make different decisions.

• Student-centered: the main focus is on students and their interactions, the teacher is only a facilitator.

• Have multiple outcomes: depending on students' choices.

• Allow free-choice: Students are free to choose the roles and decisions in the scenario.

Types of Simulations

- Digital simulation games (Civilization)

- Role-play simulations

- Web-based simulations (GlobalEd 2): it situates students in a virtual, international decision-making environment that focuses on critical world issues. The students interact together in issue areas like human rights, environment, economic policies over a five-week period.

https://globaled2.com/about-globaled-2/

https://vimeo.com/86108943

Why use Simulations?

Deeper understanding: students gain a deeper understanding and retain more information when they apply a simulation.

Increased engagement: students engage in collaborative problem-solving of world issues.

Critical and strategic thinking: simulations help students visualize, analyze, and evaluate their actions and how they affect the outcome/ result.

How to incorporate simulations in our classrooms?

1- Background: students need to have specific background knowledge before they go through the simulation.

2- Assume Identities: Students in this stage can be assigned a role or choose a role.

3- Actual Simulation: Explain the purpose and directions of the simulation. Students start without being interrupted or steered in another direction.

4- Debriefing: is when student analyze their actions, discuss what happened and why. Students communicate and interact with their peers and teacher to discuss their experiences.

5- Assessment: to assess students' understandings we can ask some questions. For example: what did you learn from this experience? How did you feel? How was it similar to the real world? How was it different? How were the events connected?

Historia Game

World War 2 simulation

Limitations

• Time-consuming: simulations take time to create and implement.

• It might not run as expected.

• Winners and losers: remind students that the aim of the simulation is to 'learn' not to 'win'.

• It's just a game: sometimes students forget the educational purpose of the simulation and just play.

Quizziz :D

Multiple Choice

What is a simulation?

• A simulation is a giant model in motion for a test.

• A simulation tests a hypothesis with 100% accuracy.

• A simulation is a form of experiential learning that is student-centered.

Multiple Select

Why do we use simulations?

• To create virtual reality games.

• So people can learn something.

• To test an idea in a controlled environment.

• All of the above.

Multiple Select

Which of the following is a limitation of using simulations?

• Time consuming

• It's just a game

• Winners and Losers

• All of the above

A good simulation can open the doors to understanding and empathy.

Resources

• https://braveintheattempt.com/2018/01/04/best-digital-games-for-social-studies/

• https://www.historysimulation.com/history-simulations.html

References

• Simulations: Real-world practice. (n.d.). Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://asiasociety.org/education/simulations-real-world-practice

• Gehlbach, H., Brown, S., Ioannou, A., Boyer, M., Hudson, N., Niv-Solomon, A., . . . Janik, L. (1970, January 01). Increasing interest in social studies: Social perspective taking and self-efficacy in stimulating simulations. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:11385610