Teachers choose to be teachers to make a difference. They want their students to feel safe and supported in their classroom, and they want them to achieve success. Teachers face a unique challenge in that the definition of success for each student can be markedly different. Simulations help create a genuine connection for teachers by promoting positivity, relatability, and mentorship.
Unlike a training manual or a case study, simulations allow participants to immerse themselves in an environment where they can explore learning objectives. The learning is achieved by enabling users to consider options, make mistakes, and draw conclusions from experience. The overall goal of a simulation is not to provide participants with a recipe for effective leadership but to demonstrate to participants that they need to fully understand the situation they are facing, evaluate it, identify possible responses, and choose the most appropriate solution. The focus of a simulation is to encourage judgment and conscious competence and to identify and correct implicit bias.
No role at a school impacts student achievement more than that of a teacher. Teachers that participate in SchoolSims gain a larger perspective of what goes on in a classroom, and a school overall. This results in a more positive culture and climate, and improved student achievement.
Below, you can read more about why current and aspiring school teachers across the country are relying on simulations for their professional development.
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 simulations are an excellent resource for current and aspiring teachers, whether already in a K-12 school or as part of a higher education program for aspiring teachers.
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 Univesity of South Dakota.
We have various packages that range between $25-50 per teacher.