Strategies for Alternative Learning

How to Employ Gaming and Simulations in the Traditional and Online Classroom Environments

Presented byDr Jonathan S. Lockwood

Professor of Intelligence StudiesAmerican Military University

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• Use of games and simulations in the traditional classroom– Use of “Boardgames”– Use of Roleplaying Simulations– Use of “Computer Assisted” Simulations

• Use of games and simulations in the Online Environment

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• Boardgames– Commercial games widely available– Many are easily adaptable for classroom use

• Examples– Victory in the Pacific (WWII air/naval) game– Gettysburg “What If” simulation

• Above games illustrate impact of limited intelligence on decisionmaking

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• Roleplaying Simulations– Homeland Security Crisis Simulation– The Second Martian Colony War of 2045

• Both of these simulations (present and intermediate future) can be adapted to intelligence play

• Can be used in either classroom or online environment

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• “Computer Assisted” Simulations– Large Scale simulations (Army After Next

Winter Wargame, Millennium Challenge– Wide variety of commercially available

computer games to choose from– Requires professor to create additional set of

rules to govern the online simulation among the students

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• Games and Simulations in the Online Environment– Some online simulations already exist, but are

not necessarily tailored to intelligence learning objectives

– Roleplaying Scenarios easily transfer from classroom to online environment, and can be adapted to intelligence learning objectives

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• Key questions for Any Roleplaying Game:– 1. What are the objectives you wish to

achieve?– 2. What strategy will you employ to achieve

your objectives?– 3. What intelligence requirements must you

satisfy in order to carry out your strategy?

• These questions must be asked each time after the introduction of new information in your roleplaying game

Strategies for Alternative Learning

• The Future of Simulations in Learning– Second Life?– Holographic Simulations?

• What are the advantages and potential pitfalls of the above?

WHAT ARE YOUR QUESTIONS?