Regardless of our age, playing with simulators (e.g. stock market investment, driving or flight simulators) and games (Starcraft, Hearts of Iron, World of Warcraft) always puts us on the path to learning and experiencing new things. That is because if our objective is to “win” the game, then we need to explore and learn the “system” in order to beat it. That is exactly what Game-Based Learning (GBL) is all about. In this article, I will cover the types of game-based learning as well as the benefits of simulations and games. In addition, I will mention some of the tools that can be used to build eLearning games and simulations. Lastly, I will discuss how you can incorporate “gamification” into your eLearning content. Simulations And Games: Types Of Game-Based Learning Many different types of game-based learning have evolved over the years, each having a different audience and its own unique objective. Here are some alternate gaming styles to consider when designing game-based learning … [Read more...] about Simulations And Games: How to Make ELearning Fun and Engaging
eLearning simulations
5 Suggestions on Creating Educational Simulations Quickly and Effectively
There are many ways to create educational simulations that are both engaging and result-oriented. However, developing these simulations can be very expensive and resource consuming. Therefore, instructional designers should strategically analyze all goals and objectives prior to getting involved in the design process. Here are five suggestions on how you can create educational simulations quickly and effectively. Introductions Matter: Rather than separate the introduction and the main body of the simulation, effective simulation models integrate them into the core content, allowing students to quickly delve into the intros, and then, get to the substance of the game. By doing so, instructional designers familiarize their students with the look-and-feel, and overall mechanics (background, themes, navigation, feedback/messaging) of the simulation early on, thereby shortening the learning curve. Pay Attention to Learning Objectives and Outcomes: When designers … [Read more...] about 5 Suggestions on Creating Educational Simulations Quickly and Effectively