The inaugural SPARC 2018 project builds on the positive results to date on the impact of simSchool on pre-service teachers and explores the vast new capabilities available in the latest version of simSchool, version 2.0.
University of West Alabama’s College of Education joined SPARC in the spring of 2018 to spearhead the new study.
Responding to multiple forces, UWA education preparation began researching simulation-based learning (SBL) applications as a solution to issues facing many education preparation programs today.
- Giving all students, especially those in online courses, relevant classroom experiences.
- Strengthening the connection between education preparation programs and their graduates during the first 2 – 3 years after they leave.
UWA learned of simSchool and Missouri Baptist University’s MUSP study while exploring classroom simulation solutions. They attended Dr. Collum’s simSchool MUSP presentation at the SITE 2018 Conference and were impressed by simSchool’s flexibility, affordability, and data recording capability.
Dr. Jan Miller, Dean of Education at UWA, and her staff hosted a discovery session at their campus in Alabama for Dr. Collum and Tech Matters. The group collaborated on a plan to integrate simSchool 2.0 into UWA’s existing education courses to meet their needs for both F2F and online classes.
This plan is the framework for our 2018 Research.
simSchool Modules/Simulations will be designed to address one or more:
- “Focus of Instruction”
- Diverse Learners – (DL)
- Differentiated Instruction – (DI)
- Classroom Management – (CM)
- Content
- Modules and simulations will be organized by level.
Initially, the existing MUSP modules will be migrated and updated to the simSchool 2.0 platform. They will provide the broadest level of understanding – what is designated as Level 1.
Since simSchool 2.0 provides expanded capabilities to “drill down” to specific competencies, simSchool 2.0 modules will allow participants to expand their area of focus to better fit specific curricular goals.
Drilling down one more level:
