School-based simulations provide authentic experiences for principal preparation programs equipping current and aspiring school leaders to meet future challenges. Simulations play a vital role in closing the preparedness gap by teaching through doing and offer a unique opportunity for peer-to-peer learning. Peer-to-peer learning is one of the most sought-after forms of principal preparation with more than 52% of principals stating that this is a key method for developing capacity1.  Simulations are an effective training tool when played asynchronously or can be completed online with a group. Online, facilitated sessions offer leaders, who might feel isolated during this COVID-challenged environment, an opportunity to collaborate and connect with others over a shared experience.

Leadership matters and nowhere does consistent leadership matter more than within our schools.  Numerous studies have definitively concluded:  school leaders drive youth outcomes.  Without effective principals, school culture is lost, teachers become disenfranchised with changing priorities, and student achievement suffers.  When principals are prepared, feel supported, and have the skills necessary to establish and maintain highly effective school settings, students prosper.

On this page, we will discuss the benefits that simulated experiences have on manufacturing experience and essentially accelerating the time to growing the experience of current and aspiring K-12 school leaders. Below you will see how simulations improve judgment and decision-making for K-12 school leaders as well as comments by those who have benefited from using simulations in professional development and/or educational leadership programs. Finally, we will discuss how simulations can be used in both Synchronous vs. Asynchronous environments, including remote, virtual learning. We hope you take the time to read this page and benefit from the content.

Teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling. Many factors contribute to a student’s academic performance, but research suggests that, among school-related factors, teachers matter most.

Having been involved with simulations for over 30 years and working with leaders in different industries around the world, I have experienced firsthand just how powerful sim-based learning can be. Advancements in neuroscience and the recognition of how biases/heuristics influence decision-making, substantiate that simulations are the best modality to provide deep and fundamental learning.  And because simulations can effectively be delivered in so many ways, they are considered one of the most versatile learning tools available.  While simulations are used to train other high stakes jobs such as pilots, healthcare providers, firefighters, and soldiers, simulations are not a widely recognized training modality in the K-12 space…yet.

Now more than ever, schools need capable, visionary administrators to lead increasingly diverse schools in our ever-changing, ever-challenging world. School and school district leaders have extraordinary responsibilities to satisfy multiple and distinct stakeholders while they constantly face new challenges. One way to be prepared for those challenges is by incorporating the use of the SchoolSims Simulation Library into your professional development program. SchoolSims simulations provide an opportunity for current and aspiring school leaders to gain virtual experience dealing with situations before facing those same issues in real-life.

Working with graduate students who are preparing for administrative careers and school leadership presents the need to balance academics with practicality. Understanding theories of leadership is important. Practicing what to do in decision-making situations is critical. For the last two years, much of the practicality has come from the use of simulations.

Given the urgent challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, districts may not believe it possible to continue to effectively focus on the critical objective of building a leadership pipeline.  Fortunately, by deploying online simulations, districts can provide both sitting and aspiring leaders with developmental opportunities to experience problems of practice in a collaborative and communication-rich manner.  Online, collaborative simulations provide organizations a chance to contextualize learning for their participants even when it is not possible to be together in person.

When faced with extraordinary circumstances we think about each other and come together to work out solutions that are in the best interest of our clients, partners, and employees. The unprecedented outbreak of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and the global public health crisis it has spawned is one of those extraordinary circumstances. As many of our clients move to remote modes of teaching to ensure the safety of their communities, we thought it important to point out that SchoolSims simulations can be utilized asynchronously.