Now more than ever, schools need capable, visionary leaders to manage increasingly diverse schools in our ever-changing, ever-challenging world. School leaders have extraordinary responsibilities to satisfy multiple and distinct stakeholders while constantly facing new challenges.
Incorporating the SchoolSims Simulation Library into your principal preparation and school leader professional development programs will allow you to provide experiential learning opportunities in a safe space, just like a pilot obtains using a flight simulator. Simulations enable participants to tackle difficult situations, make decisions, and deal with the consequences of those actions in a safe environment, gaining practice that they can tap into when necessary. Simulation categories include topics such as equity, social-emotional issues, difficult conversations, and more while aligning with PSEL and NELP professional standards.
Below, you can read more about why current and aspiring school leaders across the country are relying on simulations for their professional development programs.
Professional development needs to be more than “sage on the stage,” telling school leaders what to do, but instead providing them practice and experiences that will prepare them for the job and make them confident in their decisions and leadership. SchoolSims Simulations provide a safe space to practice dealing with challenging scenarios. Simulations can be used in group meetings, asynchronously, or both. Simulations are proven to improve judgment and decision-making so that current and aspiring leaders can be better prepared for the challenges of the job.
Each simulation is developed in partnership with a school district, college/university, or school support entity. We ensure that the topics covered by the SchoolSims’ Simulation Library relate to many of the issues facing the schools of your enrolled students. We add 5-7 new simulations each year and also refresh existing simulations so that they stay current. By incorporating simulations into your existing curriculum – either facilitated in groups or deployed asynchronously – participants gain practice and begin to develop the essential muscle memory to make the best decisions in real life.
SchoolSims are designed to align with PSEL (Professional Standards for Educational) standards. Because simulations immerse participants in school-based scenarios like those that occur in real-life, they provide an opportunity to practice evaluating context and applying the appropriate standards in a risk-free environment.
A simulation places you in the role of a school leader, where you will have to navigate the many challenges that you are faced in this role on a daily basis. For example, our Disruptive Teacher simulation places you in the role of a school leader, where you must navigate issues with a teacher not being a team player. In a choose-your-own-adventure format, you will decide the best course of action, implement it, and experience the consequences, all within the same exercise.
SchoolSims will provide training on our simulation library, how and when to use the simulations, and a one-hour session on how to facilitate simulations with Dr. David De Jong, the Chair of Educational Leadership at the University of South Dakota.
SchoolSims pricing is based on the number of participants in the cohort that will utilize the simulations. Request pricing here.
“Newly appointed assistant principals are exposed to simulations at our monthly cohort sessions to get ‘real-life’ experience in situations that are taking place in schools across the country. The simulations provide a safe space to practice decision-making and apply what is being taught in instructional sessions to develop the skills to be an effective leader.”
The simulations allow students to apply what they have learned in administrative coursework to what they will undoubtedly experience on the job. “Simulations fill the gap between what was learned in the classroom and handling situations on the job that require high-quality decisionmaking, i.e. judgment.”