1. The document invites participants to trial the simSchool simulation project, which immerses novice teachers in the complexities of teaching through simulating students with varying personalities and learning characteristics. 2. The simulation is designed to serve as a virtual practicum for teacher preparation programs by supporting the development of teaching skills before field experiences. 3. The University of Canberra is seeking students to evaluate the simulation and provide feedback.

1. simSchool the game of teaching Professor Robert Fitzgerald INSPIRE: Centre for ICT in Education University of Canberra Invitation to participate in a simulation project 3 October 2011

2. simSchool: The game of teaching The University of Canberra is participating in an international project called simSchool ( http://simschool.org ) simSchool is supported by EDUCAUSE and the Next Generation Learning Challenge grant program The international project is lead by David Gibson from CurveShift, Inc.( [email_address] ) Stacy Kruse from Pragmatic Solutions, Inc. [email_address] ) is the professional development contact Professor Rob Fitzgerald ( [email_address] ) is the University of Canberra contact for the project

3. simSchool: Playing to learn

4. simSchool: What is it? simSchool immerses novice teachers in some of the complexities of teaching simulates Yr7-12 high school students who possess a variety of different learning characteristics and personalities (based on Big 5 & Circumplex) The simulation is designed to serve as a "virtual practicum" that augments teacher preparation programs by supporting the development of teaching skills prior to field experience in real classrooms simSchool is an epistemic game . A player enters the simulated classroom with a limited understanding of teaching practice; through repeated cycles of decision-making, experimentation, and refinement, builds expertise by developing new strategies and thinking like a teacher

5. Personality traits: Big 5 The program simulates student’s personality traits The Big 5 factors (or Five Factor Model) of personality are five dimensions of personality that are commonly used in psychology to describe human personality The five factors are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism Source: http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/03/02/personality3.jpg

6. Interpersonal traits: Circumplex The program simulates student’s personality traits The circumplex is a model for describing interpersonal behaviour It is made up of two orthogonal axes. The vertical is commonly referred to as agency (Dominant vs Submissive) and the horizontal as communion (Hostile vs Friendly) Source : http://www.interpersonalcircle.com/S_circle.jpg

7. Getting started

8. Learning about your students

9. Interacting with your class Learn more at http://www.simschool.org/flashvideo/flvplayer.php

10. Sign-up today! Register at www.simschool.org Select student registration. From the drop down menu select “University of Canberra” Learn more by signing up for a webinar at http://simschool.org/ webinars Contact Rob Fitzgerald with your feedback and comments robert.fitzgerald@canberra.edu.au

11. UC & simSchool UC is a level 2 partner with simSchool & Educause Invitation to trial and evaluate the simulation Send feedback and comments Looking for 3-4 students to work as research assistants to work with me to comprehensively evaluate the simulation Looking for people with different backgrounds to contribute and review Read more at: http://innovateonline.info/pdf/vol1_issue6/simSchool_-__The_Game_of_Teaching.pdf To get involved please contact Rob Fitzgerald at [email_address]

12. More information about INSPIRE Professor Robert Fitzgerald Phd Director INSPIRE Centre for ICT in Education Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) University of Canberra Bruce ACT 2600 AUSTRALIA Phone +61 417023539 Email robert.fitzgerald@canberra.edu.au Mark Christian Manager, Educational Development Phone +61 418267757 Email mark.christian@canberra.edu.au Jacinta Spinks Project Officer Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) University of Canberra, Australia, 2601 Phone +61 26206 3965 Email jacinta.spinks@canberra.edu.au Jessica Schumann Communications Officer Office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Phone +61 2 6201 5047 Email jessica.schumann@canberra.edu.au