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The Calm and the Storm:
Simulation and GamesWhy All Games are Simulations
and the Challenges of Using Simulations and Games for Learning
Katrin Becker
IASTED International Conference on Modelling and
Simulation (MS 2013),
Banff, Canada, July 17, 2013
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Briefly….
1. All Games are Sims2. Computers Simulation3. What the rest of the world knows of
simulation4. Education View of Simulations & Games5. Why this is a Problem6. What can Simulations Take from Games?7. What simulations (including games) offer
Education8. Design Implications
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
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All Games are SimulationsThere are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. Willa Cather (1915)
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.BeckerBotanicula
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All Games are Sims
In this community, the claim that all games are simulations, but not all simulations are games does not seem especially radical.
When you look under the hood of a modern simulation or videogame, you see pretty much the same stuff.
It hardly seems worth a second thought.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.BeckerBotanicula
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Computers were created for Simulation
Simulation has been at the very core of computer development since the very beginning, …..
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
MH-1A was a pressurized water reactor and the first floating nuclear power station. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/MH1Asimulator.JPG
Computers Simulation
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…and we’ve applied what we know to games for almost as long.
Tennis for Two, 1958:Higinbotham realized how static and non-interactive most science exhibits were at that time. As head of Brookhaven Lab’s Instrumentation Division, he would change that. While reflecting on his creation, Higinbotham wrote, “it might liven up the place to have a game that people could play, and which would convey the message that our scientific endeavors have relevance for society."
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Computers Simulation
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Simulations are everywhere…22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Computers Simulation
they've been used in almost every manufactured and constructed artifact we have….
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BUT……22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Computers Simulation
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What the rest of the world knows
of simulation
s
The Blind Men and the Elephant
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
And so these men of HindustanDisputed loud and long,Each in his own opinionExceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the rightAnd all were in the wrong.
John Godfrey Saxe
What the rest of the world knows of simulation
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What is simulation?22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Spore
What is Simulation
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To Us
A computer simulation is a computer program that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system.
Computational model of a phenomenon, environment, or experience.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
What is Simulation
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To Education
Educational Simulation
=Live Role Play.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
http://dare-network.blogspot.ca/2011/06/human-rights-education-through-dilemma.html
Computer simulations often thought to be computerized version of LARP
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Limitations
In education,• simulations are about real life systems,• games are about fantasy
Simulations often have nothing at all to do with computers.
Educationists make sweeping assumptions about how simulations get used, including notions that • fidelity and realism are requirements for
effective learning, • winning always takes precedence
over exploration in games.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Simulationsaccording to Gredler (AECT), Alessi & Trollip
Perspective is end-user (External)
• Must be complex & REAL • Participants have defined roles• Data-rich environment, where students can execute
range of strategies• Feedback is in form of changes to situation
• Realism is essential to effective learning.
• Learning the model is educational objective.
• Understanding the model is the goal.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Fidelityaccording to Gredler (AECT), Alessi & Trollip
CS: fidelity = accuracy of the representation.
If simulating real-world system, then fidelity is measure of closeness to reality.
If not then fidelity is measure of closeness to model.
Education: fidelity = level of realism presented to the learner.
("High" fidelity = live action, regardless of accuracy)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation#Simulation_in_education_and_training
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Validityaccording to Gredler (AECT), Alessi & Trollip
CS: validity = are results usable? Do they allow for
accurate predictions, descriptions, explanations?
(accuracy = closeness of data (in & out) to thing being simulated)
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Education: validity = methodological measures: algorithmic, conceptual, construct, content, educational, event, external, internal,…
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Games vs. Simulationsaccording to Gredler (AECT), Alessi & Trollip
Game = • Games rarely played differently from the way they were
intended.• Winning will take precedence over experimenting• Games are less efficient learning models than other
methodologies• Educators have negative beliefs about games
Educational Game =• Learning embedded in game, not part of it• Has rules, winning is important • Winning should not have random factor for Ed• No distracting bells and whistles• Include directions in booklets• Students shouldn’t lose points when
wrong
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Education View of Simulations & Games
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Problem is….22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
“Everyone should have his own point of view.” said Alec.
“Isn’t this everyone’s Point of View?” asked Tock, looking around curiously.
Norton Juster, p.107-108, “The Phantom Toll Booth”
For instance, from here that looks like a bucket of water,” he said pointing
to a bucket of water; “but from an ant’s point of view it’s a vast ocean,
from an elephant’s just a cool drink, and to a fish, of course, it’s home. So, you see, the way you see things depends a great deal on where
you look at them from. Now, come along and I’ll show you the rest of the
forest.”
“Of course not,” replied Alec, sitting himself down on nothing. “It’s only mine, and you certainly can’t always look at things from someone else’s Point of View.
All Images © Jules Feiffer
Why this is a Problem
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Let's Make a Game!22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Why this is a Problem
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Gamers think….22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Black and WhiteKatamari Damacy
Why this is a Problem
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Educators think…..22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Why this is a Problem
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Comparing Conceptual Structures22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
When terminology is
used in different ways
by different groups…
communication suffers.
Terminology
Att
rib
ute
s
Same Different
Sam
eD
iffere
nt
Consensus
Experts use terminology and concepts in the
same way
Correspondence
Experts use different
terminology for the same conceptsConflict
Experts use same
terminology for different concepts.
Contrast
Experts use different
terminology and different concepts
Shaw, M.L.G. & Gaines,
B. (1989)
Why this is a Problem
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This was not a big handicap in the early days when simulations were primarily
created for fairly specialized applications,
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Why this is a Problem
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Things have Changed
Thanks to the Internet, videogames, and mobile technology, things have changed.
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Why this is a Problem
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Clearly, recognizing that games are in fact merely a subsetof a larger category of simulations affords opportunitiesfor a fruitful exchange of knowledge, which includes the sharing of methodologies and tools. 22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
Why this is a Problem
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Modern Games vs Traditional Simulations
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What can Simulations Take from Games?
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What can Simulations Take from Games?
Higher profile for Simulations, generally (games aren’t just for kids)
A way to inspire new practitioners.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
What can Simulations Take from Games?
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Traditional simulations & commercial games are converging
High-end games can now serve dual-purpose (Full Spectrum Warrior)
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
What can Simulations Take from Games?
Drives hardware development.
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What simulations (including games) offer Education
• Free from “shackles” of reality (or not).• Fidelity can be dialed up or down as appropriate.• Validity is negotiable.• Non-linear (“random access”).• User-control.• Exploration is encouraged (& supported).• Variable perspectives (be the frog, or the fly he
eats).• Learning must be integral to (required for)
winning (achievement).• Narrative approach (R.Schank).• Reduced Risk.
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
What Simulations offer Education
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Simulation & Gaming
Back together again…
22/06/2013 The Calm & the Storm © 2013, K.Becker
What Simulations offer Education
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Design Implications
HOW?
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Design Implications
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SD vs GD vs ID
Simulation Design
Game Design Instructional Design
Object Environment (where)
Player Experience (how)
Content / Message (what)
Role Experiment Teaching Method Receptacle for content
Content / Method
Content and Method
interrelated
Method primary (content may be
irrelevant)
Method secondary to Content (game as
receptacle?)
Fidelity Faithfulness to model essential
self-consistent, otherwise irrelevant
Faithfulness to message essential
Vantage Point
Science & Engineering
Entertainment (SENG?)
Formal Education
Credentials Professional (Sci.,Eng.)
Game Industry Education / Academia
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Design Implications
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Simulation Design
1. Describe the Model2. Gather Data
1. Create Conceptual Model
3. Validate4. Create Operational Model5. Verify6. Translate into Simulation7. Test
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Design Implications
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Instructional Design22/06/2013
Design Implications
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Game Design22/06/2013
Design Implications
Why are we playing?
Where are we playing?
How are we playing?
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Design Implications
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Summary
1. All Games are Sims (but not vice versa)
and that's OK.2. Computers Simulation (but not vice versa)
3. The World doesn't know simulationand we should help them.
4. Education doesn't understand Simulationsand we NEED to help them.
5. Simulation can gain higher profile from Games (so let's do it).
6. Simulations has MUCH to offer Education (so let's do it).
7. Serious Game Design must be a synergy.
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Thanks!22/06/2013