Soft Rest #4- Participatory Simulations - A pod-talk with educators

The focus of this Pod-cast is simulatory software for the classroom. Simulation software has been around for a while, beginning with Oregon Trail. I guess that it actually began with roleplay before we ever had classroom computers. If you have ever used this kind of instruction, you know that it is effective. With simulations on a handheld, there are just as many advantages, and even a few more.

The pod-cast discussed two different simulations, one with communicable diseases and one with environments and populations. Both of them seemed quite intriguing to me, and I would love to see them in action! In the first example, one handheld is set up to be "sick". When other computers come into contact with it, they become "infected". One of the jobs of the students is to determine who the original culprit was. In the second example, the handhelds are assigned to be little fish or big fish in a pond. The big fish eat the little fish. The little fish can be eaten, but they will also "reproduce". There are a number of applications in this example including predator/prey relationships, balance within an ecosystem, population control, and biodiversity.

I can see so many advantages to using this kind of software. First, (and maybe most importantly to a classroom teacher) is there are no consummable supplies that have to be stored, prepared, or re-ordered. There is very little setup time and no clean up time invloved. With no visible set up, the lesson can be fresh for each class. With the power of the software, it allows more time for applying thinking skills for the students, and less time to "work it out". (graphing, recording data, etc.) I think using the handhelds for simulations is excellent!