281 Tools and the Curriculum
Forum: Simulations
03/22/09 Due Midnight: 03/28/09
Introduction
The goals of this assignment are to learn about simulations, to experience a few simulations, and to create a web page illustrating the application and integration of a pre-existing simulation in your locus of control. Work independently and ask for help as needed from peers or instructors. Use the following resources to guide you in this process.
1. Read and Explore two of the following resources;
Simulations in Education: A Primer by Colin Milligan 
Harnessing the Power of Games in Education by Kurk Squire and Henry Jenkins
Game-Based Learning: How to Delight and Instruct in the 21st Century by Joel Forman
Simulation Nation: The Promise of Virtual Learning Activities by Mark Prensky
Optional reading: Chapter 16 - Learning from Simulations
Joyce, B. R., Weil, M., Calhoun, E. (2004). Models of teaching (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
(or any other edition of this textbook you can get your hands on)
2. Try several of the following Simulation Activities
Control The Nuclear Power Plant (Demonstration)
http://www.ida.liu.se/%7Eher/npp/demo.html
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics - math simulations PreK-12
http://standards.nctm.org/document/eexamples/index.htm
A Side of Sims: Suggestions for the Classroom
http://www.edutopia.org/node/3343
Solar System Simulator
http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/
Visualizing Chemical Kinetics
http://www.chem.uci.edu/undergrad/applets/
(If these sites do not have a simulation you like, then use Google or another search engine to find a simulation you think fits in your locus of control.)
3. Project
Use Dreamweaver to create a page(s) with the following:
- A brief definition of simulations in your own words.
- An example (a sentence or two) of a simulation with technology.
- An example of a simulation without technology.
- Using one simulation of any type provided by the readings; found while searching the Internet (if none of the simulations from the readings appealed to you) or a simulation you developed on your own;
- Expand on your chosen simulation by discussing how you would add/modify technology to augment the lesson, workshop, professional development, etc. (i.e., think about simulations within your locus of control).
- Provide a short reflection on why you think the simulation strategy would work with the content to make a more powerful learning experience
- Provide a link to the simulation website from which you derived your ideas if available
- Upload your Simulation page to your folder on the iMET server.
After completing the assignment, reflect on simulations, and, if you have used them, think about how you've used them in your locus of control << take this fun survey!.
On the Forum, post:
- A brief paragraph synopsizing your work.
- A link to your simulation web page on the iMET server.
- A response to one peer's simulation idea.
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References
Card, O. S. (1985). Ender's Game. New York, N.Y.: T. Doherty Associates.
Foreman, J. (2004). Game-Based Learning: How to Delight and Instruct in The 21st Century. EDUCAUSE Review v39 n5, p50 (52-54), 56.
Joyce, B. R., Weil, M., Calhoun, E. (2004). Models of teaching (7th ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
Milligan, C., (2000, June 6). Simulations in Education. Retrieved October 14, 2006,
from Integrating Networked Simulations in Distributed Education Web site: http://www.assets.scotcit.ac.uk/hw_inside/inside/primer/
Prensky, Mark (2007, March). Simulation nation: the promise of virtual learning activities.
Edutopia , Retrieved March 17, 2009, from http://www.edutopia.org/simulation-nation
Squire, K., Jenkins, H. (2003). Harnessing the power of games in education. Insight , Retrieved October 14, 2006, from http://www.iaete.org/insight/articles.cfm
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Schedule