1. Simulation and Games to Improve Teaching Dr. David Gibson CurveShift.com

2. How simSchool Works

3. simSchool Creates “Know-How” …the tacit decision making processes a teacher uses when questioning students, making suggestions, or noticing signs of understanding.

4. (Observable Variables) Dynamically Generated Profiles A database of text on each personality element allows 5 statement fragments per element This produces 5 ^ 9 or 1.9 million written profiles

5. (Observable Variables) Student Behavior Body posture offers clues Verbal responses reflect student’s internal state “I am trying hard to complete my work” complete my work”

6. simSchool http://simschool.org/

7. What Games & Sims Teach Understanding big ideas - systems knowledge Dealing with time and scale Practice in decision-making Active problem-solving Concepts, strategies, & tactics Understanding processes beyond experience Practice makes improvement (Aldrich, 2005)

8. Elements & Impacts Experience Elements Simulation Game Pedagogy Content Types Systems Cyclical Linear Discover & Practice Test & Motivate Present & Support (Aldrich, 2005)

9. Learning Theory Framework Assessment Learner Knowledge Community

10. Assessment Learner Knowledge Community Activity Theory Framework Artifacts (Interface - Models) Subject (Players) Object (Control-Win) Community (Gamers - Agents) Roles (Gamers - Agents) Praxis (Rules - Strategies - Experimental Evidence)

11. Research Themes Situating G&S in education Social analysis of G&S What teachers should know and be able to do with G&S Augmenting reality with handhelds Embedding assessment in G&S

12. simSchool’s “Engine” Independent Variables Dependent Variables Observable Variables Hidden Variables What context teachers see How students react What teachers do student outcomes

13. (Hidden Variables) 3-Aspect simStudent Personality Openness to learning Conscientiousness toward tasks Extroversion or introversion Agreeableness Neuroticism - emotional stability Visual Auditory Kinesthetic Expected academic performance

14. (Hidden Variables) Interpersonal Circumplex Teachers and students interact with one another by negotiating power and affiliation

15. (Independent Variables) What Teachers Do  Select Tasks Emotional, Physical & Cognitive current states of students interact with task requirements A Zone of Proximal Development determines time-to- success on task and effects student attitudes Talk to simStudents Questions, observations, or assertions about academic or, behavioral issues

16. Task Profiles

17. Feedback Tasks Performance in Time

18. simStudent Learning (e.g. 5 min gains on 3 tasks by “Ali”) Do an oral quizRecite a lengthy poemDo whole-class oral response

19. simSchool Theories Zone of Proximal Development OCEAN model of psychology Physical model of sensation-perception Social Expectation States Theory concerning tasks Complex Systems System dynamics

20. Zone of Proximal Development TASK Requirements ZPD of the STUDENT Time on Task

21. OCEAN model of psychology Open to New Things Conscientious Extroverted Agreeable Emotionally Stable Prefers Familiar Easily Distracted Introverted Works Alone Touchy - neurotic

22. Representational Domains VAKOCE ANn… Sally Josh

23. Complex models produce data Differs from “noncomputational” theorizing in education A computer-based game or simulation the production of data is the centerpiece of game play, agent behavior, and the representation of physical processes.

24. Complex System Framework Nodes and Influences Hyperlinked peer-to-peer and hierarchical structures Interacting representational domains comprised of factors expressed as continua Dynamics characterized by multidimensional fields with attractors and repellors controlling the evolution of system and subsystem states.

25. Nodes and Influences Hyperlinked, peer-to-peer, hierarchical structures

26. VAKOCE ANn… DynamicsDynamics Sally Task

27. Dynamic Landscapes Task Student

28. simSchool www.simschool.org david.gibson@curveshift.com