Learning online with games, simulations, and virtual worlds : strategies for online instruction

The infusion of games, simulations, and virtual worlds into online learning can be a transforming experience for both the instructor and the student. This practical guide, written by education game expert Clark Aldrich, shows faculty members and instructional designers how to identify opportunities for building games, simulations, and virtual environments into the curriculum; how to successfully incorporate these interactive environments to enhance student learning; and how to measure the learning outcomes. It also discusses how to build institutional support for using and financing more complex simulations. The book includes frameworks, tips, case studies and other real examples, and resources.

Praise for Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds

"Clark Aldrich provides powerful insights into the dynamic arena of games, simulations, and virtual worlds in a simultaneously entertaining and serious manner as only he can. If you are involved with educating anyone, from your own children to classrooms full of students, you need to devour this book."
-- Karl Kapp, assistant director, Institute for Interactive Technologies, Bloomsburg University

"At a time when the technologies for e-learning are evolving faster than most people can follow, Aldrich successfully bridges the perceptual gap between virtual worlds, digital games, and educational simulations, and provides educators with all they really need to use this technology to enhance and enrich their e-learning experiences."
-- Katrin Becker, instructor, Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Mount Royal College, and adjunct professor of education, University of Calgary

"I consider this a must-read for anyone engaged in or contemplating using these tools in their classrooms or designing their own tools."
-- Rick Van Sant, professor of learning and technology, Ferris State University

Author Notes

Clark Aldrich, a popular conference speaker, columnist, and analyst, is the designer and implementer of educational simulations including SimuLearn's vLeader 2007, a virtual leadership e-learning platform. He is the author of two award-winning books, Simulations and the Future of Learning and Learning by Doing, as well as The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games, all from Pfeiffer.

Preface	p. vii
The Author	p. x
Part I What Are Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds Really, and Why Should I Care?
1 Understanding Highly Interactive Virtual Environments	p. 3
Do Highly Interactive Virtual Environments Work Better?	p. 4
The "Why"	p. 5
Clarifying What We Mean by Highly Interactive Virtual Environments	p. 6
2 Embracing Interactivity	p. 15
Interactivity Levels 0 through 6	p. 16
Interactivity Levels and Leadership Models	p. 19
3 Sims: A New Model of Content	p. 21
Simulation Elements	p. 22
Game Elements	p. 23
Pedagogical Elements	p. 25
Tasks and Levels	p. 27
Genres of Stand-Alone Sims	p. 29
Four Concluding Thoughts	p. 37
4 Highly Interactive Content from the Students' and the Instructor's Perspective	p. 39
Different Culture, Different Rules	p. 39
Learning to Love Frustration and Anticipate Resolution	p. 40
When the Most Valuable Thing for a Coach to Do Is Nothing	p. 42
part II Choosing and Using a Highly Interactive Virtual Environment
5 Identifying the Right Approach for the Right Need	p. 47
Why Use Distance Learning Programs at All?	p. 48
When to Use Highly Interactive Content	p. 49
Costs Associated with HIVEs	p. 53
6 Doing the Prep Work	p. 55
Connect with Other Interested Professionals	p. 55
Access the Content	p. 55
Infrastructure Selection Criteria	p. 63
Content Selection Criteria	p. 66
Self-Paced/Single Player, Asynchronous, or Synchronous	p. 69
Trust	p. 71
Might Virtual Worlds Be the Universal Interface to (Other) Sims?	p. 71
7 Integrating and Piloting	p. 75
Technical Support for Students	p. 75
Chunking Content	p. 76
Piloting	p. 81
Conclusion: The Need for Front Loading	p. 83
8 A Brief Example of a Simulation Deployment	p. 85
Peter Shea's Sim for Writing	p. 85
Online versus Face to Face	p. 87
Students as Real-Time Evaluators of Sims?	p. 88
9 The Processes of Using a HIVE and the Role of Coaching	p. 89
The Setup	p. 89
On Ramp: From Real Life to Simulation	p. 92
Teaching the Interface	p. 93
First Public Simulation Play	p. 93
Putting Together Groups for Multiplayer or Team-Based Sims	p. 95
Coaching during the Student Use	p. 97
After Action Reviews	p. 99
Off Ramp: From Simulation Back to Real Life	p. 101
Into the Breach	p. 102
10 Creating Evaluation Strategies	p. 103
Why Not Measure Experience with a Multiple-Choice Test?	p. 103
Assessment Strategies	p. 105
Assessment Techniques for Grading Student Performance	p. 107
Conclusion	p. 111
Part III Other Considerations
7 Selling Interactive Environments Internally-Getting Buy In from Administrators, Department Heads, Colleagues, Parents, and even Students	p. 115
Building Support for HIVEs	p. 116
What Does Success Look Like for You?	p. 120
Epilogue: The New Attraction of Distance Learning	p. 121
References	p. 123
Index	p. 125

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Table of Contents