School to Career is part of a national initiative to help students make connections between the content, skills, and concepts they are learning in the classroom and careers in the real world. School-to-career practices add relevance to the elementary school curriculum and promote engagement in learning. A key feature of many school-to-career…

Describes a simulation activity that has most of the features of a real situation. Discusses how this activity worked in the language classroom. (Author/VWL)

Argues that fictitious roles and situations, particularly if too far removed from the students' experiences, contribute to the failure of role-playing activities as a teaching technique in second language classes. Offers an alternative view of role-taking and eight principles to guide teachers in their selection and adaptation of role-play…

Surveys the purposes, effectiveness, selection, and design of simulations and provides some criteria by which faculty may judge the suitability of the play element for meeting classroom needs. Lists of resources for simulation selection and directories of games are appended. (Author/MER)

Discusses the use of simulations as an alternative form of instruction for teaching general level students. Describes how the author used a simulation in a general level history class with positive results. Concludes that simulation is a teaching method which is well-suited to the goal of assisting non-college bound students in acquiring necessary…

Simulation activities provide opportunities to focus on the individual's contribution, encourage creativity, and build self-esteem. These activities can help develop social skills and understanding of other cultures by fostering attitudes of tolerance and sensitivity. (Examples of simulations are included.) (SED)

Examines some of the reasons that role playing and simulation are not heavily used as teaching techniques in language classes and discusses the need for a better understanding of the nature and scope of the techniques. Ways in which these techniques might be more fully exploited are suggested. (Author/JL)

Discusses the benefits of using simulations in the classroom, stating that critical-thinking simulations, as opposed to factual simulations, provide for more student involvement, a greater increase in students' research ability, and improved critical questioning skills. Describes each type of simulation and presents a critical-thinking example…

Some ethical issues associated with use of disability simulations as a teaching tool in college-level courses on individuals with disabilities are discussed. Issues include maximizing authenticity of the experience, the value of confronting difficult situations; teacher responsibility to various constituencies, and relevance of simulations. (MSE)

This paper explores behavior patterns that inhibit effective communication in everyday, educational, and business cross-cultural settings. Opportunities to change these inhibiting patterns, metaphorically referred to as "stumbling blocks," into building blocks or tools for successful intercultural understandings are discussed in the…

Technology can be useful in physics classrooms, though teachers must be careful not to let technology remove students from first-hand experiences with nature through observation and experimentation. The paper examines how to enhance physics instruction using computers as graphing tools, for data collection, and as real-world simulators. (SM)

Recommends that students learn about Islamic civilization by presenting a "medieval banquet in the Alhambra Palace." Provides information about middle eastern culture and history that students could use to plan and produce the banquet. Includes a list of 26 "guests" who would be role-played by students. (CFR)