Wednesday, August 30

SimSchool

I checked out a product called SimSchool (http://simschool.org) which is a simulation for teachers. It was created through funding from the Preparing Tomorrows Teachers to Use Technology (PT3) project. The idea is to allow teachers to practice differentiated instruction, lesson planning and classroom management in a safe learning environment.
Each student in the class has a profile with their personality and learning style. The teacher has to talk with the students and match assignments to learning styles. The student outcomes depend on the teacher interaction and lesson plans. Through repeated experience teachers can build teaching strategies.
The simulation is free – all you have to do is register. After you finish a simulation you can download a class report and individual student reports. The simulation can be saved and accessed later. There is an enhanced version that can be purchased - $12/year for premium access.
I tried it out a little and it was engaging, the premium version allows you to create a larger class and designate specific learning styles and personalities to a student. I think it would be a great tool to use to re-create a class situation that did not go well, or try out some new strategies. I definitely wished we had something like this before I started student teaching!

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