Group items tagged

Exciting to see how a massive online computer simulation game has enabled a young internet football manager to gain credibility in a real league. This has important implications for other educational simulations.

A smart board that recognizes what you are drawing and plays a simulation for you.

Link to National Research Council workshop on games and simulations in science education, including all the commissioned papers.

How test designers are trying to move away from standardized tests to computer programs that can measure a myriad of skills simultaneously through simulations and "stealth monitoring."  Both Chris Dede and Howard Gardner are mentioned.

ohn Sterman's business management courses have gone toe-to-toe in simulated business arenas, with the latest being a concocted world of video game companies looking for an edge in marketing and selling their gaming consoles and software.

3-D surgery simulator

Educational Arcade paper from MIT focusing on: "the background and affordances of Simulations, Digital Games, and Social Networking, the cognitive implications of these technologies, specific challenges with using these tools in the classroom, as well as strategies for overcoming these challenges in order to achieve successful learning experiences, and the future of these technologies and their impact and learning and teaching."

simSchool is a classroom simulation that supports the rapid accumulation of a teacher's experience in analyzing student differences, adapting instruction to individual learner needs, gathering data about the impacts of instruction, and seeing the results of their teaching. It's a virtual learning environment where instructors can explore instructional strategies, examine classroom management techniques, and practice building relationships with students that will translate into increased learning.

Discusses specific areas (embedded data, peer learning, and simulations) where technology can be applied in classroom to empower students. Also provides links to area-specific tools.

Interesting article - highlights the growth of virtual training tools and their capacity to improve real world tasks. Example: "The amazing results of the training and simulation program have led to significantly improved grades on students' critical skills tests, taking scores from a 56% success in 2007, to 95% at the end of 2008 after the simulation was instituted."

If you have not actually played with this developing technology, it is easy and impressive. The implications and applications for this simulation media in education (e-learning, adult, multiple intelligence assessments) are great.

If you have any experience using or teaching Scratch (a visual IDE for teaching basic programming), along comes App Inventor from Google to allow anyone to program apps for the Android operating system. Includes a simulator. I have put in my request for App Inventor but, alas, I am still waiting - can't wait to try it! Put in your request!

Concord Consortium is mentioned in #1, 4 and 5: 1. Better Simulations and Models 2. Global Learning 3. Virtual Manipulatives 4. Probes and Sensors 5. More Efficient Assessment 6. Storytelling and Multimedia 7. E-books 8. Epistemic Games

Simulations, Global Learning, Virtual Manipulatives, Probes and Sensors, More efficient assessment, storytelling and media, e-books - good overview of how technology is enhancing education

This list almost feels like it could be used as a litmus test to judge new technology a school is considering.

Jerry Brown, Governor of California, speaks out about the ineptitude of standardized tests as a comprehensive, accurate way of measuring student learning. This idea is germane to most of what we are learning about the virtues of performance-based assessments, constructivist approach to learning, and the future of education. Does anybody think that there will ever be a time when standardized testing is replaced by something more effective? Emerging technologies like augmented reality simulations and multi-user virtual environments could be candidates for the replacement of standardized paper-based tests. Interesting to think about...

Apparently my simulation idea about having students take on roles as career professionals has already been done. A drove of statistical consultants (the students) are helping the mayor (NPC), get re-elected. The most interesting Worked Example is Modern Prometheus, where students learn about literature and writing through a MUVE.

Global Learning Game-based Learning Virtual worlds, digital simulations and models Mobile learning Real-time data-based decision making

"IBM is working with DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, on a "cognitive computer" that would simulate the same number of neurons as the human brain, upwards of 100 billion". Wonder how 'human' it will be?