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Change is Good! - Questions to Ask When Adapting Games
and Simulations to Reach Different Learning Outcomes
by Kevin Eikenberry
Often we see a great game or simulation and would like to use it, but we'd like to use to meet different or modified learning objectives. This job aid is meant to help you think through how to modify or adapt that simulation to meet your needs.
Step One - What are the Desired Learning Outcomes?
If you have clear learning objectives already, great! If not, make sure you can clearly state (that means write them down!) the learning outcomes you need to achieve.
Step Two - Will This Simulation Work for Me?
Think about the flow of the simulation. Refer back the your desired learning outcomes. Does the simulation explore the learning outcomes you want to reach? Think through the flow and activity of the players. Can you debrief the experience in a way to meet your needs?
Step Three - How Can I Modify it?
There are several ways to consider modifying the simulation to better meet you needs.
- Change the level of fidelity. Perhaps to meet your objectives you need to adjust the format or flow of the game to more closely meet your learner's real life situation. Or perhaps, as already built it is too much like real life for your learners to be natural when playing. Depending on the learning you plan to achieve you may need to change the simulation's fidelity.
- Include an observer. Observers are always a good idea in games and simulations. They give you another set of eyes and ears to use during the debrief. When adapting an existing simulation to meet your needs, you might want to set up a specific set of things to watch for (which match your learning objectives) and give that list to the observer(s). this will help ensure that your learning outcomes are discussed during the debrief.
- Change the scenario or rules. Sometimes with a small shift in the rules, goals, or scenario, you can change the learner's focus during the simulation.
- Change the size of teams, or put people in teams. If you hope to debrief around team issues as well as other content, make the teams a little larger. The larger the team the complex their interaction, the easier for someone to not participate, etc. All these dynamics are great fodder for a debrief! The opposite is true as well. If you don't want to focus on the team aspects as much, try slightly smaller teams if your simulation will allow it.
- Give people more or less planning time. If you want to emphasize project management or planning topics, you can adjust the amount of planning time you give groups as a way to highlight these areas.
- Decide when to share content. In most cases you have content that you want to share related to your learning points. When you share it - before or after your simulation - may impact how people view and therefore play the game or simulation. There are no hard and fast rules here, but if you will think through your needs, and keep this option in mind, you will make a good decision.. This is often a good option to pilot as well. Try it both ways!
Step Four - What Do I Debrief?
Start by using your learning objectives. Use this list as a starting point for your debrief. You want to make sure that the learning points planned are covered by your debrief. If you begin your debrief planning keeping your outcomes in mind you will be heading the right direction. Remember to use your observers in your debrief as well. This is why you gave them this role!
©Kevin Eikenberry 2001. Kevin is Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group (http://KevinEikenberry.com), a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. To receive your free special report on Unleashing Your Potential go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/index.asp or call us at (317) 387-1424 or 888.LEARNER.
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