Hosted by Dr. David De Jong- Chair of the Division of Educational Leadership at the University of South Dakota
“Educational simulations have shown to be beneficial for economy and cost savings. Another benefit for the use of educational simulations is to mitigate risk and to enrich different experiences. These simulations allow potential leaders to make mistakes and to learn from the experience in a safe environment.”
- Dr. David De Jong Chair of Educational Leadership University of South Dakota
Simulations provide an opportunity to practice critical thinking in a safe space. Participants face high-stakes situations and cope with the consequences of their decisions without real-life implications. This experience builds confidence and improves judgment.
Learning by doing has proven to be the most effective form of training. Participants practice decision making and are given real-time feedback to understand what went wrong and how they can improve. Having the opportunity to safely learn from mistakes improves engagement and knowledge retention.
Simulations enable participants to gain experience dealing with authentic challenges before actual situations occur. By playing simulations multiple times, learners can try different routes and realize the consequences of each choice so they can draw on that knowledge when faced with similar issues in real-life.
Simulations provide opportunities for discourse among participants – during and after each simulation. These conversations compel learners to understand not just the “how” but also the “why” and often reveal biases and uncover areas of improvement.