Simulations

According to the Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors, a simulation is a "duplication of the essential characteristics of a task or situation" (p. 278). Simulations are used in education, training, and research because they allow the learner to experience real-world problems and situations within a controlled situation.

In describing the use of the simulated automobile to teach driver education students, Joyce and Weil (1996) note the value of simulations: "The simulator can present the student with learning tasks to which he or she can respond, but the responses do not have the same consequences that they would have in a real-life situation" (p. 371).

Several simulations are particularly appropriate for use in multicultural education and teaching for diversity:

• Bafa Bafa: A Cross-Culture Simulation (Shirts, 1997a) is a simulation kit designed to develop understanding of values, rules, expectations, and customs of diverse cultures.

• Brown Eyes, Blue Eyes (Peters, 1971) is a simulation that allows students to experience prejudice.

• Starpower (Shirts, 1997b) is a human-relations simulation that focuses on the dynamics of economic power.

For more information on simulations, refer to Sources for Simulations.

References