Projects at West Hollywood Private School: We use SIMULATIONS on computers to improve the mind and develop discipline

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Some students believe that they learn from simulations. They take SCREENSHOTS of important events online and then they explain "what happened."
1) Here is the problem.
2) These were my options.
3) This is what I decided to do and
4) This is what happened later.

Here is the feedback from Justin Z., a consultant to West Hollywood Private School

"Some video games are clearly without ethical growth. There is just a series of things to destroy.

However, simulations involve (1) making choices and (2) learning the rules and
(3) living with the consequences. This means that you can shoot the bad guy who stole the package that you were delivering, or you can take back the package and let the guy live. If you let the bad guy live, he might help you later.

These choices mean that you have to govern your emotions. You might want to "give that bad guy what he deserves" and you want to "teach him a lesson," but what are the possibilities for the future?

A simulation like MineCraft involves
-- reading instructions
-- asking for help
-- working with others
-- looking at what works for others and deciding to build something similar or better
-- taking the first step
-- looking for another way to do something.

These abilities can be developed alone but are more likely to be created with other students.

Let's give labels to these abilities (using Tony Wagner's vocabulary)

-- reading instructions (ACCESSING and ANALYZING INFORMATION)

-- asking for help (ORAL COMMUNICATION)

-- working with others (COLLABORATING)
-- looking at what works for others and deciding to build something similar or better

This teacher in California uses simulations

Simulation for farming in History

-- taking the first step (INITIATIVE)

-- looking for another way to do something. (ADAPTABILITY and AGILITY)

Students learn by leading
a lesson

Some games are about “Do whatever you want” …

“You are probably going to deal with the consequence in the near future deal with problems because of what you did recently.”

Justin Z says: if you want to encourage students to adapt, consider puzzle games like

- secrets of grindea2 d game but like the Zelda, lots of puzzles

one of the levels is tetris piece and you have to stretch them to get to the other side to build a bridge hit the shapes you have

trust me i sat there for an hour they may seem easy but they are not.

Puzzle games are “nice” because you have to adapt when you move to the next level.

farming simulator 2015

heavy machinery

don’t run over trees

skills and procedures that worked in level 7 no longer work in level 8

you have to adapt.

Background about Justin Z., our advisor for Simulations.

Justin Z. studied archeology at FAU. He is currently employed in the computer sales and maintenance industry.

He was born in Germany and now lives in Florida.

He owns a desktop computer with an i7 quad core processor (2015). He expects that his computer will still be serving him in 2020.

He advocates buying a “five year computer.” Spend enough to make the computer last for five years.

Alienware makes a 2000 gamer’s computer that is fast enough to project most simulations without stutter. or screen lag.

Justin Z. can be reached though his consultant’s account at justin@whpsus.org

He graciously has donated his expertise to the school’s pool of volunteers and he is a gold star member, having donated 10+ hours to the school’s knowledge center.

We can get some of these ideas from Teaching Channel