Games in the Classroom

Today’s net gen students have come to expect interactive and networked environments for learning. Their demands are echoed by education researchers, who suggest that students learn best by engaging in real-world environments, while being supported by a community of learners. Games in the classroom are well placed to meet today’s student expectations and education research demands.

By immersing students in real-world environments, where they need to solve problems, make decisions and interact with other players, simulation games provide opportunities for building professional skills, knowledge and values.

For best learning outcomes, simulation games in education need to be well integrated into courses through careful course design.

Where Are Simulation Games Most Effective?

Simulation games are becoming increasingly popular in many disciplines in education. They mimic real-world environments, but unlike real systems, allow students to learn new skills by doing and making mistakes, without any harm to people or surroundings.

Simulation games have been particularly beneficial in teaching economics, business, math, science and engineering. Teaching languages can also be improved through simulations, because students can hear sounds and get immersed in a foreign language and culture.

There are numerous business, government management and social sciences simulation games, used in university education.

How to Integrate Simulation Games Into Courses?

If applied properly, simulation games can be a great educational tool. They help students fully experience a complex system rather than just hear about it in lectures.

In the course design simulation games need to be selected to match the content, learning objectives and target audience. It is important to note that they are most effective in reinforcing conventional instructional methods rather then replacing them.

Depending on their nature and complexity, simulation games can be applied as

pre-instructional activities to provide motivation
co-instructional tools within lectures for developing learning objectives and providing context
post-instructional assignments for practicing relevant skills.

Learning objectives are strengthened by mixing simulation games with instructor-led discussion and feedback. By blending simulation technology and classroom discussions students have opportunities to actively practice a range of skills and gain understanding from discussion and reflection.

Note that integrating simulation games into the classroom might need more planning and preparation than face-to-face teaching. However, the benefits are higher student motivation, satisfaction and learning outcomes.

What Learning Outcomes Can Be Achieved by Simulation Games?

These are some typical learning outcomes, which can be achieved through simulation games

Build real-world experience
Learn ethics and values
Gain hands-on experienceDevelop managerial skills and knowledge
Build strategy skills
Master systems and understand their underlying principles
Develop response skills to emergency situations
Test hypotheses
Improve performance.

Best Simulation Games

Virtonomics is a multiplayer simulation game for learning the basics of business and economics. It simulates a large company, where the player acts as a manager and competes with other players to make a successful business. Students can develop managerial knowledge and skills, learn to make multiple-factor business decisions, organize business communication and develop business processes.

Colonization is an example of a strategy game, in which players set out to discover and explore the New World. The final goal is to achieve independence from Europe. There are many challenges to be overcome by balancing various aspects of the game, such as exploration, immigration, production, trade, foreign and domestic relations and of course warfare. The players can learn strategic thinking, resource management, political and economic policies, negotiation skills etc.

SimEarth is game that can be used by physics and astronomy students to simulate and learn about geological and biological evolution of the earth and other planets. The player can vary a planet’s atmosphere, temperature, landmass etc, place various forms of life on the planet and watch it evolve.

Adventures in Fugawiland: A Computer Simulation in Archaeology introduces undergraduate archaeology students to the fundamentals of archaeological research by simulating fieldwork experiences. In the simulation, students see a map of hypothetical prehistoric sites, choose sites to excavate on-screen, examine what they find and answer questions about their findings. The simulation game

Simulation games engage students with the content and with each other, making learning fun and more effective than conventional teaching. If you are interested in using or developing simulation games in education, we would be delighted to hear from you.