Because of the ever-changing demographics in schools, leaders must be able to shape a vision for academic success; create a high-performance learning culture; cultivate leadership in others; improve instruction; and know how to manage people, data, and processes in an era of accountability. Leadership is the fundamental element that can drive an organization to tremendous success. There is quite a bit of research that validates the effect great leaders have on student success. The factor most often quoted as improving student success is the principal’s effectiveness as a school’s instructional leader. To be effective, leaders must have knowledge, skills, talent, and dispositions that students cannot acquire in college courses alone and can only be mastered with opportunities to learn from outstanding professional leaders.
Including LeaderSims in your school leader development program will allow current and aspiring leaders to practice dealing with challenging scenarios in a safe space. Simulations can be used in group meetings, asynchronously, or both. Simulations are proven to improve judgment and decision-making so that when aspiring leaders become sitting leaders, they are ready for the challenges of the job.
Learn more about how current school leaders are using our LeaderSims.
Learn more about how aspiring school leaders are using our LeaderSims.
Learn more about how Ed Leadership Programs are using our LeaderSims.
Below, you can read more about why current and aspiring school leaders across the country are relying on simulations for their professional development and higher education curriculum.
Both current and aspiring leaders require leadership experience, and SchoolSims delivers them with relevant experiences that help them appreciate the complexities of these responsibilities. Our simulations can be utilized synchronously or asynchronously.
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.
SchoolSims will help you select the appropriate titles for each course or topic. You can then utilize the simulations synchronously, asynchronously, or in a blended fashion.
See our best practices here.
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.”