Simulation Examples by Genre

I have gathered some of the examples of sims and organized them into Genres (simulation learning models), that would otherwise be sprinked throughout this blog. The links to the examples are in [brackets], and click on the headings to get more context on any of them.

mini games: one note really is better than none: Small, easy-to-access game built to be simple and addictive, which often focuses on mastering an action and can provide awareness of more complicated issues.

• editorial ([Take Back Illinois], [September 12]);
• explanation ([Binary Numbers], [building and throwing paper airplanes], [Tips On Tap], [Dean for America game], or [Disney for Kids on Running a business]); and
• marketing/messaging ([Dr. Pepper Speedway Rush], [General Electric's Ecomagination], or [Monster.com Climbing the Corporate Ladder]).

interactive spreadsheets: they are wonk-ariffic! Simulation in which students typically try to impact critical metrics by allocating resources along competing categories and getting feedback of their decisions through graphs and charts.

• Play Budget Hero here [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/features/budget_hero/]
• Two Forio interactive spreadsheet examples: [here] and [here].
• A more complicated interactive spreadsheet example on [global warming].
• Business school issues such as policy, supply chain management [McDonald's game], but with a satirical twist.

frame games: no one wants to take a test, but everyone wants to be in a game show: Students engage familiar games and puzzles such as Wheel of Fortune®, solitaire, or memory, with important pieces of awareness or task-based content replacing trivia or icons.

• Participants play [California's Flex You Power] game to raise awareness of power issues and gain some tips.

branching story: where a little interactivity that goes a long way : Simulation in which students make a series of decisions via a multiple choice interface to progress through and impact an event.

• First Person Sample Branching Story from [Performance Development Group] (you may have to load it twice; I always get hung up the first time on the "loading screen.")
• Third Person Example from [WILL Interactive]

practiceware: if you need results, or even just want them: Real-time, often 3D sims that encourages participants to repeat actions in high fidelity situations until the skills become natural in the real-world counterpart

• Click on the entry and watch the two available YouTube hosted videos.

Virtual product or virtual lab : A series of challenges/puzzles to be solved using on-screen representations of real-world objects and software.

• Go to the gallary of [this site] or [this site] and click around.

All of the above can be considered game activities for soft skills classes.

Also take a look at Brendan Coyle's senior thesis simulation at the Maryland Institute College of Art, focused on learning Korean.

• [http://www.brendancoyle.com/mapojib/]

See also examples in E-Learning course, asynchronous.