What are the best tools for creating educational simulations for students of all ages?

Simulations are effective in education because they provide experiential learning opportunities. They allow students to engage in realistic scenarios and apply theoretical knowledge in a practical, risk-free environment. For example, in a biology class, students can use a simulation to virtually dissect an animal, understanding anatomy without the ethical concerns of actual dissection. Simulations facilitate deeper understanding and retention of complex concepts by enabling interactive and immersive learning experiences.

Stimulating the five senses in the process of teaching and learning aids both the educator and the learner, be it any age group. It is important to stimulate the senses for a better understanding resulting in forward thinking, correlation and implementation.

I believe this article is excellent, especially the last sentence. In hospitality it is important for students to understand what customers will be looking for in a knowledgeable and dedicated employee. That is why we always had our Mitchell students work at a hospitality driven site, like hotels, etc to ensure when they graduated they knew exactly where they wanted to be. We have so many talented students out there in the field and I truly enjoy hearing and reading about their success.

Las simulaciones, en sus diferentes formas, pueden ayudar a contextualizar el aprendizaje. Es el modelo que actualmente se utiliza para metodologías basadas en el desarrollo de competencias, ya que permite al alumnado situarse ante una realidad que puede haber vivido, estar viviendo o que vivirá en algún momento y tener que intervenir planificando, ejecutando y revisando una estrategia y una o diferentes acciones. De esta manera, todo aquello que el alumnado realiza o lleva a cabo cobra un sentido único, ya que tiene una finalidad concreta y, sobre todo, real. Además de favorecer la implicación en la simulación y, por consiguiente, en el aprendizaje, genera que éste sea significativo y duradero a largo plazo.

As melhores ferramentas para criar simula??es educacionais para alunos s?o aquelas que possuem caráter responsivo (rodam em diversos aparelhos), possuem baixa necessidade de tramita??o de dados e tenham necessidade de exigência pedagógica (ou seja, tenham significado ao aprendizado)

These are several excellent tools for creating educational simulations that cater to students of all ages.1. Unity: Unity is a powerful cross-platform game development engine widely used for creating interactive simulations with 2D or 3D graphics. 2. Scratch: Developed by MIT, Scratch is a visual programming language and online community for creating simulations, animations, and games. 3. PhET Simulations: PhET provides free, interactive simulations for science and math education.4. The Powder Toy: This simulation game allows students to experiment with physics, chemistry, and materials science concepts. 5. Labster: Labster offers virtual lab simulations that allow students to conduct scientific experiments in a digital environment.

Simulations come in various forms, including virtual labs, role-playing games, and interactive models. For instance, in a chemistry class, a virtual lab simulation allows students to conduct experiments without physical lab equipment, while a role-playing game in a history class can immerse students in historical events and decisions. Interactive models are useful in subjects like astronomy to explore celestial movements and phenomena.

Existem várias ferramentas excelentes. é claro que é importante avaliar todo o contexto escolar. Alguns exemplos incluem: - Scratch (que é ótimo para ensinar programa??o de forma lúdica); - Minecraft Education Edition (que permite criar ambientes educacionais imersivos); - PhET Interactive Simulations (que oferece simula??es interativas em diversas áreas da ciência). Cada uma dessas ferramentas tem suas próprias vantagens e pode ser adequada para diferentes propósitos educacionais.

Las simulaciones pueden darse de distintas maneras, pero hoy en día la principal y la que cuenta con mayor interés es la experiencia virtual. El uso de la tecnología y el internet nos permite acceder al conocimiento de una manera que antes no era posible. En el área en la que me desarrollo, el uso de paginas web y foros de discusión en el internet es una forma excepcional de hacer que los alumnos pongan en practica sus habilidades lingüísticas con personas alrededor del mundo, ya que proveen de práctica real con personas que no se encuentran físicamente frente a nosotros. Esto reduce el estrés de cometer errores ya que las conversaciones se entablan con personas que probablemente no volveremos a ver.

From my understanding there are three types of simulations physical, Virtual Reality and online. While VR is fairly new it creates realistic scenarios that immerse learners in the sights and sounds they’ll encounter in the workplace.

To choose the right tool for an educational simulation, follow the CRM method: ensure it's Clear, Relevant, and Meaningful. Consider learning goals, technical requirements, and the tool's fit with your teaching style. Think about student preferences, what you want them to achieve, and how you'll guide their learning. Keep it simple and aligned with diverse student interests and abilities.

Para escolher a ferramenta certa, é essencial considerar a realidade dos alunos, incluindo seu contexto social e cultural. Conhecer bem os alunos ajuda a selecionar uma ferramenta que se alinhe com suas experiências e necessidades educacionais.

Choosing the right tool for creating educational simulations involves matching your objectives with your students' needs and the tool's capabilities. For younger students, consider intuitive, user-friendly platforms like Scratch or Tinkercad, which offer simple, engaging introductions to concepts. For older or more advanced students, tools like Unity for 3D simulations or MATLAB for mathematical modeling provide deeper, more sophisticated functionalities. Assess the complexity of the content, the learning curve of the tool, and its ability to engage your specific audience. The best tool seamlessly blends with your educational goals and enhances the learning experience for your students, regardless of their age.

The main emphasis should be placed on the detailed identification of the pedagogical difficulties encountered rather than on the presentation of the technological solutions envisaged. It is only after having clearly defined the pedagogical objectives that one sets oneself and by highlighting the difficulties one faces that one can define the work to be done.

Choosing the right simulation tool depends on your learning objectives, the subject matter, and your students' age group and tech-savviness. Evaluate tools for their ease of use, educational content, and compatibility with your teaching style. For younger students, choose intuitive tools with simpler interfaces, while for older or more advanced students, more detailed and complex simulations might be appropriate.

Popular tools for educational simulations include PhET Interactive Simulations for science topics, offering a range of physics, chemistry, and biology simulations. SimCityEDU is excellent for social studies, teaching urban planning and environmental management. For mathematics, tools like GeoGebra offer interactive geometry, algebra, and calculus simulations.

Wordwall and Funbrain are also good examples of tools one can use for educational games and simulations. One can create games or use existing ones.

I use PhET sims for math class. Wordwall for games on literacy. Kahoot is also a good app for setting quiz. There are lots of online sites that help learners have a feel of the real world experience.

PhET Interactive - provides a wide range of interactive simulations covering multiple subjects like physics, chemistry, biology, and math. It enhances conceptual understanding through hands-on exploration, making abstract concepts more tangible and engaging for students. Scratch- A visual programming language designed for beginners, allowing them to create interactive stories, games, and animations.Promotes computational thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills while making coding accessible and fun way for teachers to introduce programming. Unity3D - Offers a powerful platform fostering skills in programming, design, and collaboration. Suitable for older students interested in game development and sim design.

Wordwall and Funbrain are also good examples of tools one can use for games and simulations. One can create games or use existing ones.

El dise?o de una simulación, más allá de los objetivos, debe determinar fases, incluyendo una fase piloto, para crear poco a poco un clima inmersivo para los estudiantes. Las fases deben ir aumentando su complejidad para ir evaluando si existe o no, comprensión sobre la variable de estudio.

Design simulations around specific learning objectives and ensure they complement your curriculum. Begin by introducing the purpose of the simulation and how it relates to the course material. For example, in a simulation on solar system dynamics, guide students on how to manipulate planetary orbits to understand gravitational forces. After the simulation, have students reflect on their experience, discuss findings, and connect them to theoretical concepts. This ensures a holistic learning experience that integrates practical application with conceptual understanding.

Storytelling can transform a simulation into an engaging story that captures students' attention and evokes strong feelings, increasing the learning experience's impact and memorability. By incorporating instructional materials into a storyline, students are immersed in a narrative and must use their knowledge and abilities to advance and conquer obstacles. This method helps students understand the significance of what they learn in actual circumstances by contextualizing learning and making the simulation more accessible and engaging. Including narrative in simulations promotes a stronger emotional bond with the content, which can develop empathy, moral reasoning, and a more sophisticated comprehension of complex subjects.

En el ámbito de ense?anza de idiomas es bastante sencillo, ya que la simulación puede derivar de cualquier conversación que se dé en alguna temática del mundo real, por ejemplo: Ir de compras. A los alumnos se les asignan roles que deben recrear para poder emular una conversación real y utilizando vocabulario, expresiones, estrategias y estructuras revisadas previamente con el fin de preparar al alumnos para dicha situación, y que cuando se vea inmerso en dicha situación pero en un ambiente real (al viajar a un país extranjero, por ejemplo) pueda desenvolverse sin problemas gracias a la práctica o simulación previa.

In the design phase, create a detailed plan for how the simulation will work, including the scenario, user interactions, and feedback mechanisms. Then based on these specifications, develop the simulation using programming languages, simulation software, or alternative tools.

The best tools for creating educational simulations for all ages include Unity 3D for 3D simulations, Articulate Storyline for e-learning modules, Scratch for simplicity, PhET for science/math, Simulink for engineering, Labster for virtual labs, and CoSpaces Edu for immersive 3D experiences. These tools cover a wide range of subjects and cater to diverse educational needs.

It is critical to ensure that simulations (particularly those that recreate/reimagine historical events) are facilitated with sensitivity, knowledge of students’ needs/learning realities, and space to debrief. Students should never feel unsafe or singled out during simulative learning, and the resources utilized should provide vital context and multiple perspectives. I think simulations that offer students the opportunity to consider how historical figures made decisions and engaged with their world are incredibly impactful. Not only do young people develop skills in analysis, they also actively engage in empathetic thinking.

It is imperative that the best simulation is chosen based on the learner's needs. While VR is new and upcoming it still has limitations. Also online is more cost efficient but it is not as realistic as physical simulations.