Games, Simulations and Other Learning Exercises USA Canada Youth Exchange Network Conference March 9-12, 2006, Houston, Texas Dennis White

The challenges of teaching about culture Teaching about culture is, in fact, challenging, since the most significant aspects that shape how we perceive our environment, other people, space, and time are hidden from view.

The challenges of teaching about culture These aspects are comprised of largely unconscious assumptions, based on lessons learned in childhood from our families and societies. Simply telling students about cultural differences is often not enough – they must experience them as well.

The challenges of teaching about culture Simulating cross cultural situations can be a very effective way of accomplishing this. There are a great number and variety of cross cultural simulations available, ranging in complexity and length. There are a great number and variety of cross cultural simulations available, ranging in complexity and length.

The challenges of teaching about culture What they all offer is for participants to experience intercultural interaction, including the uncertainty, frustration, and related emotions that arise. What they all offer is for participants to experience intercultural interaction, including the uncertainty, frustration, and related emotions that arise.

The challenges of teaching about culture The main teaching goals center on: 1. Increased self-awareness of personal reactions to ambiguous, cross cultural reactions to ambiguous, cross cultural situations 2. A deeper understanding of how situations 2. A deeper understanding of how cultural assumptions influence our cultural assumptions influence our perceptions, behaviors and reactions. perceptions, behaviors and reactions.

The challenges of teaching about culture The main teaching goals center on: 3. Most importantly, the goal is to teach participants to look for cultural differences and anticipate them.

What is a simulation? A game that imitates life, or a particular aspect of life.A game that imitates life, or a particular aspect of life. It often involves completing a task.It often involves completing a task. It often involves extended role- playing.It often involves extended role- playing.

Examples of Commercially available Simulations  Bafa Bafa  Barnga  Econtos  An Alien Among Us May be found at sites like May be found at sites like

Examples of Free Simulations  Broken Squares Broken Squares.doc  Broken Squares Broken Squares.doc Broken Squares.doc Broken Squares.doc  Build a Tower Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc  Build a Tower Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc  The Anthropologist The Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.doc The Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.doc The Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.doc all posted on all posted on

Basic Principles Participants go through an activity. Participants go through an activity. A discussion follows. A discussion follows. Learning points attempt to link the simulation or game to real life. Learning points attempt to link the simulation or game to real life.

Discussion/Debriefing Outline: People don’t learn from experience; they learn from reflecting on their experience. 1. How do You feel? 2. What happened? 3. What did you learn? 4. How does this relate to the real world? 5. What if? (example – what if you had known why they were acting that way?) 6. How can you apply your learning?

Discussion/Debriefing Outline: People don’t learn from experience; they learn from reflecting on their experience. The most common mistake in doing simulations is to spend too much time on the simulation and not enough time discussing it. The most common mistake in doing simulations is to spend too much time on the simulation and not enough time discussing it.

Discussion/Debriefing Outline: People don’t learn from experience; they learn from reflecting on their experience. My rule of thumb: The discussion should last as long as the simulation. My rule of thumb: The discussion should last as long as the simulation. If that seems too long, then maybe the simulation itself is too long. If that seems too long, then maybe the simulation itself is too long.

Demonstration

Discussion/Debriefing Outline: People don’t learn from experience; they learn from reflecting on their experience. 1. How do You feel? 2. What happened? 3. What did you learn? 4. How does this relate to the real world? 5. What if? (example – what if you had known why they were acting that way?) 6. How can you apply your learning?

Documents available at Cross-cultural simulation scripts.doc Cross-cultural simulation scripts.doc Cross-cultural simulation scripts.doc Cross-cultural simulation scripts.doc Six Phases of Debriefing.doc Six Phases of Debriefing.docSix Phases of Debriefing.docSix Phases of Debriefing.doc Simulation Games.doc Simulation Games.doc Simulation Games.doc Simulation Games.doc Broken Squares.doc Broken Squares.doc Broken Squares.doc Broken Squares.doc Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc Build a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.docBuild a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.docBuild a Tower Culture Exercise with facilitation directions.doc The Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.doc The Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.docThe Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.docThe Anthropologist- A Cross Cultural activity.doc

Games, Simulations and Other Learning Exercises USA Canada Youth Exchange Network Conference March 9-12, 2006, Houston, Texas Dennis White