Today@Dal

The ​Centre for Learning and Teaching will be to hosting a noon hour, Lunch & Learn series for faculty and administrative staff working in the online environment throughout the fall and winter terms.  Feel free to bring your lunch and join us.   Our first session in the series is: Adopting a blended learning approach to help promote student learning via a role-play simulation: Best practices from two longitudinal studies.

Date: ​​Friday, October 13, 2017

Time: 12:00 to 1:00 PM

Location: Killam Library, Room B400

Facilitator: Dr. Matthew Schnurr, Department of International Development Studies

​The use of role-play simulations in university classrooms has gained popularity as an effective and innovative form of active learning. Simulations have been shown to teach students a range of practical skills and relevant concepts in a format that is fun, engaging and educational. But the effectiveness of any simulation hinges on its ability to engage learners. This presentation shares empirical results from two longitudinal studies of role-play simulations utilized in large-scale undergraduate survey courses in the social sciences, both of which adhere to a blended learning model that combine online and in-person forums. Quantitative and qualitative data from the first simulation reveal that these immersive exercises enhanced knowledge acquisition, but negatively impacted skill development and student interest. Preliminary data from a second simulation investigate the potential for utilizing these learning activities within early-year pedagogy, as well as the potential value of integrating social media tools. 

Taken together, these results challenge our traditional understanding of simulation-based learning as a tool that simply enhances student interest. Adopting a blended learning approach that utilizes online technologies alongside preparatory learning and face-to-face interactions enhances immersive learning by forcing students to confront the real-life realities of international negotiation.  Such processes are often painstakingly slow, tedious, and unpredictable. They fail more than they succeed. Forcing to students to confront how international negotiations fail encourages them to ask deeper questions about why this is the case, and what can be done to change the status quo.

Register for this event

To learn more about the Lunch and Learn Series and subsequent dates, please visit https://www.dal.ca/dept/clt/events-news/PD/LandL.html.​