simSchool: The Game of Teaching - INNOVATE Webcast

simSchool: The Game of Teaching was one of several articles featured in a special July/August issue of INNOVATE that highlighted the role of video game technology in current and future educational settings. [“simSchool: The Game of Teaching."] 

INNOVATE, a peer-reviewed online periodical published by the Fischler School of Education and Human Services at Nova Southeastern University, focuses on the creative use of information technology to enhance educational processes in academic, commercial, and governmental settings. True to it’s mission, the journal creatively uses webcasting to provide a venue for readers to interact with published authors.

During a webcast on September 14, 2005, simSchool Co-PI David Gibson and Melanie Zibit, Manager of Online Support Services spoke with audience members about simSchool, answered questions and shared creative ideas about how simSchool might be used in teacher preparation.

	I am interested in this kind of tool to help the "right" people for the jobs feel prepared and less overwhelmed by issues that they had no clue to expect.

To give you a flavor of the exchanges, one participant mentioned that her institution had an “upside down” teacher preparation program, where preservice students “get their feet wet” first in the classroom.

The participant thought that using simSchool in this type of situation would be of great benefit.

With simSchool as with other games, players can immerse themselves in the simulation environment, experiment and decide on actions that may or may not lead to success. Thus the game would provide a safe environment for preservice students to take risks, practice, and make mistakes before working with real children.

Another participant raised the point, America’s Army Development Team claims one of the strengths of their game is that it weeds out future “drop out” recruits and saves the Army the cost of training the wrong people, and asked would this be a relevant use of simSchool?

To this question, another participant responded, “I am interested in this kind of tool to help the "right" people for the jobs feel prepared and less overwhelmed by issues that they had no clue to expect.” The questioner clarified,“ It looks like simSchool will be a good tool to help prepare future teachers with virtual experience…it might also mean a lot of pre-service teachers changing majors.”  Next Page: simSchool Pilot Testing

To listen to the INNOVATE Webcast click here