The evolution of simSchool: A case study in design-based researchDr. Gerald Knezek is Regents Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of North Texas, USA. Along with colleagues Dr. Rhonda Christensen and Dr. Tandra Tyler-Wood, he has lead research efforts related to simSchool since 2006.
SimSchool is a dynamic, web-based simulation of a classroom teaching environment designed to improve the competence and confidence of current and future teachers. SimSchool is now in its ninth year since initial creation by David Gibson and colleagues. This presentation will discuss how the product has evolved through several design-development-feedback-refinement cycles to incorporate new features such as Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic sensory variables; "Make a student" and "Create a task" options, visualization of simulation run results; module sharing facilities to create library-like user-contributed simulation routines, and a quick-entry simSchool Lite. An abbreviated list of features envisioned for the future will be presented as well. http://www.simschool.org/ |