Chapter 3: How to use Simulations in Teaching: Integration Strategies and Guidelines

The text talks about how to use simulations in teaching and some of the ways are in place of or as supplements to lab experiments, role-playing, field trips, introducing and/or clarifying a new topic, fostering exploration and process learning, and encouraging cooperation and group work. With lab experiments the way teachers can use it when the experiments are too dangerous or they cannot do the experiment. This would be a great way to use instead of doing dangerous experiments along with reviewing material. Then with role-playing is a way that the students do not have to get up in front of class to role play. It is also a way to control how the discussion or play goes. With field trips you can go anywhere instead of leaving the classroom. I have heard of teachers doing this when they are learning about things like other countries and the students can go on a field trip that is far, far away. Introducing and/or clarifying a new topic talks about how students can learn about a topic or go in-depth on a certain topic before being graded. Fostering exploration and process learning is about motivating students to explore their cognitive processes. The text also talks about how students can concentrate on problem- solving steps and strategies. Finally with encouraging cooperation and group work talks about how these simulations can encourage cooperation between students and also be able to work in groups. I definitely would use simulations when I teach. I would use the field trips simulation to show the children places where you normally would not be able to go to. Overall I would definitely use them and I think that they would benefit children.