Simulations and educational games in teaching

Simulations and educational games are potent tools in higher education teaching and can be used to create experimental learning environments. They allow students to try out and learn complex concepts and skills through interactive experiences in a safe environment.

Published on 6. February 2023

Simulations and educational games with practice-oriented knowledge and professionally relevant contexts of action enable students to test the applicability of acquired competencies in their studies. In higher education, simulations and educational games are increasingly used in teaching-learning scenarios and offer many benefits to both teachers and learners – if used correctly.

In a nutshell: What are simulations and educational games?

A simulation is a recreation of a real or hypothetical situation that allows students to slip into a particular role or scenario and observe the effects of their own decisions on the model. An educational game is a game that is specifically designed to teach certain skills or knowledge. Educational games can be designed as quizzes, puzzles, or adventure games and often provide feedback and stimuli as part of the playful actions to prompt student learning processes.

Simulations and educational games can address topics or problems of various disciplines (e.g., business, engineering, or social science) and simulate the experiences and challenges of realistic work environments. They can be categorized in many ways and subdivided according to certain characteristics, such as genre, single or multiplayer, or user interface.

Step by Step

Before a simulation or educational game can be implemented, the teaching content must be conceptualized and the required technology must be provided. At this point, objectives, especially the Learning Outcomes to be achieved with the simulation or educational game, should be defined and the necessary resources should be provided. You can choose to use existing simulations or develop your own. This decision is influenced by various factors:

Availability and customizability: The availability of simulations and educational games that precisely match needs and learning objectives can be limited. If existing simulations and educational games do not fit or can be adapted properly, developing your own simulations and educational games may be a better option.
Cost: Existing simulations and educational games are often less expensive than developing your own.
Time: Developing your own simulations and educational games can be very time-consuming while existing simulations and educational games can usually be used immediately.

During the simulation or educational game, students are supposed to actively apply their acquired knowledge. Before implementation, consider the following issues that will have a strong impact on the implementation and achievement of established objectives and communicate them to the students:

Integration into the lessons (thematically, temporally, spatially)
Supervision
Group work
Provision of contextual knowledge about game content and tasks
Assignments
Follow-up and reflection

After completing the simulation or educational game, the results should be evaluated and discussed. At this point, it may also be useful for students to give their feedback on the simulation or educational game.

Advantages and disadvantages of simulations and educational games

It is important to consider the intended objectives and required resources when incorporating simulations and educational games into teaching to determine if they are appropriate for a particular teaching-learning setting.

Facilitate a deeper understanding of complex issues and dynamic developments
Achieve greater focus on learners with a more active role
Promote the application of acquired knowledge
Provide a safe environment for experiments and errors
Enable a personalized and adaptive learning environment
Can increase student motivation since they are interactive, fun, and allow students to put their knowledge into a practical context

High effort in preparation and implementation
Require special technical equipment
Equipment, licenses, or development of a new software can cause high costs
Require regular evaluation and adaptation to ensure their effectiveness and relevance

Good Practices

The point-and-click adventure “Worlds of Materials” is part of the modular didactic concept developed by Prof. Dr. Martin Bonnet, head of the Institute for Applied Materials at TH Cologne (German).