LEARNING DESIGN

Enough “Simulation Space” To Try Different Strategies

Simulations are called simulations for a reason. They’re trying to simulate reality. Every day at work employees are presented with choices. Some decisions are good, some are okay and some are bad. Each time an employee makes a decision, there is a consequence, and another set of decisions to make. People correct themselves as they go — this is how they improve their skills.

So when you’re building a simulation, it should mirror this process as closely as possible. Many simulation providers espouse the virtues of simulations but in reality what they give you is a linear sequence of multiple-choice questions. A user picks a choice and if they make a mistake, they get feedback and are asked to pick from the same exact set of choices until they get it right. Only when they get it right are they permitted to move forward. That doesn’t happen in real life, and it shouldn’t happen in your simulation either. When users make mistakes in a simulation, they should see consequences and be given new choices that will either help them correct their mistakes or get them into deeper trouble. And if they really aren’t getting it, they should be given some coaching and allowed to start from the beginning to try it all over again.