Remember that one job you did during your teenage years? The one with the never-ending orientation session, packed with dull company videos and training materials that were mind-numbing at best. Being stuck in an employee training room, unable to escape before being forced to regurgitate key points, is something I would prefer to forget. It's safe to say that traditional corporate training and e-learning can often be tedious and ineffective. Fortunately, Clark Aldrich, a pioneer in educational simulations, advocates for a better way of teaching: Short Sims.
Short Sims are short, interactive simulations that aim to teach specific skills or concepts while being far more engaging and effective than your past employer's "thrilling" instruction manual. Sounds like a breath of fresh air, doesn't it? So, how do we make these Short Sims a reality?
Educational Simulations: The Needle in the Design Haystack
The key is deep understanding. When designing a Short Sim, experts need a foundational comprehension and genuine interest in both the topic and the transfer of knowledge. The goal is to focus on content rather than getting lost in overly complex technical aspects. We're not creating the next mind-blowing video game here; we're teaching valuable skills and concepts. Speaking of which...
The Conundrum of Gaming-Adjacent Learning
With an ever-growing video game culture, it's tempting to try and replicate the engaging, interactive nature of these complex games within e-learning. However, as Aldrich points out, this may not be the best approach. By all means, let your love for gaming inspire you as you create immersive simulations, but remember that the main objective is to educate.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, but a Short Sim is Worth Even More
When creating these sims, visual context can be crucial to learner engagement. That doesn't mean you should become a full-blown 3D animator overnight! Stick to what you know, and don't overcomplicate things. As your prowess in interactive simulation design grows, you can gradually introduce more advanced techniques.
The Great Balancing Act: Ethical and Accessible Choices
As an instructional designer, you must consider the ethical implications of your work. Balancing the need to convey serious consequences with avoiding potential distress can be a fine line to walk. Achieving this balance is vital, as is ensuring that simulations are accessible to all, including those with disabilities.
Efficacy and Effectiveness: Shifting the Metrics Paradigm
Throw out the usual metrics you keep in mind and focus on user engagement. Ultimately, the best simulations are those that users find engaging and useful, rather than simply scoring high on arbitrary metrics.
The Future of Learning: One Short Sim at a Time
Aldrich envisions a future in which 10,000 short sims are created within just a few years. This innovative approach to learning could foster a more inclusive and effective educational landscape. Embracing this mindset might be a step towards revolutionizing traditional e-learning methods. Imagine a training room where you don't want to climb out the window to escape!
Do you want to dive deeper into the world of short sims and learn more from Clark Aldrich's experience? Check out the related webinar, where Aldrich discusses these ideas with Sergey Snegirev, CEO of BranchTrack.