Simulations and games are often discussed together, but they are indeed different. To make things somewhat confusing is that some games use simulations as a foundation and some simulations have gaming principles embedded in them. Nonetheless, simulations and games are not the same. In one of our eLearning Lunch & Learn (ELL) sessions last year, we discussed games and findings from the research literature. Our October 2013 ELL session will focus on the use of simulations in education and training. We’ll cover a few examples of simulations being used in education and training and then some of characteristics of simulations. Joules Webb will then present on the Future City Competition, a nation-wide, project-based learning experience where middle school students imagine, design, and build cities of the future. Students work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using SimCity™ software; research and write solutions to an engineering problem; build tabletop scale models with recycled materials; and present their ideas before judges at Regional Competitions. Joules is the Associate Director of the San Antonio Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Central Texas Future City Competition. Join us to hear more about simulations and the Future City Competition.
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