Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Be a surgeon, mobile phone designer or weather forecaster! (Simulation-Based Learning Unit)

Learn how to utilize web-based simulation games to help improve student engagement in meaningful learning, and develop their meta-cognitive skills. These web-based simulations provide students with real world experiences that encourages discovery learning. 

I have created a simulation-based learning unit that allows students to take on the role of people in different occupations. Students will learn about the benefits of operating simulation games in an educational setting through my presentation.  In these simulations, students will complete lifelike tasks that will provide them with an idea of what it is like to work in different career fields. Simulation-based learning will also help students authentically reflect on the career knowledge and skills that they learn.


Teachers! Make sure to install extensions to block ads for these games! Here is my blog post that provides information on ad blocking extensions for Google Chrome. 


Here is the graphic organizer that students would for each of the simulation games:image


The graphic organizer is divided into sections based on different simulation experiences. Each section provides students with questions that pertain to that specific simulation experience. Students will need to: 


  • Read ALL the questions before starting the simulations. This will help you look for the important content.

  • Fill out the graphic organizer while you are playing the simulation.

  • Use the “Research” tool to define or find more information about a topic or term(Menu Bar>Tools>Research), if the information is not stated in the game.

  • Use the highlight tool in the toolbar for multiple choice questions.

Below is an image of the section for the city planning simulation. image


Below is the image and link to the simulation game that the students would need to play to answer all the questions on their graphic organizer.image


Here are some other simulations.


1. Virtual Knee Surgeryimage


2. Floor Planning/Interior Designimage


3. Mobile Phone Designerimage


4. Be a President for a Day!


image


This unit involves these ISTE’s National Educational Technology Standards strands:


  • Creativity and Innovation

  • Research and Information Fluency

  • Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

  • Technology Operations and Concepts

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