Economic Simulations as Learning Tool
Economic simulations are an member of the you learn by doing philosophy to learning. And, there are a very powerful member even thought it is not direct doing.
Many endeavors require direct participation to learn. You learn to paint by painting. To hit a curve ball by batting. Etc. These are physical activities with direct physical world simulate.
Management and strategic planning, on the other hand, are mental activities involving processing large information sets. There are usually real-world stimulus, for example tons of coal mover. But these are converted to information sets (reports) that are feed into the management process.
Thus, computer based simulations labs can create an environment that is very close to the processes of real world business. And can provide accelerate the process and thus the learning.
Learning in the Lab
The sections in this chapter provide an overview of the learning process in the Simutrans Lab. In the section called “How to Acquire Knowledge” presents how a participant should approach the learning process in the lab. This section documents the participants actions of observation, inspection and Trail.
In the section called “Management Framework” introduces the process of "mapping" the participant's simulation experiences, and acquired know-how, to the language and core concepts of business. This is the heart of the lab. Most Participant will become very capable game player on their own. The goal of the lab is to project the skills they learn in the Simulation Lab to skill that are use every day in the business world. And, to provide the Participants with the vocabulary the business executive understand. If you want to become an MBA talk like and MBA.
Game files used in this Chapter - MOVE TO CHAP 2
simLab1.sve (UPDATE WITH FILE IN "LAB MANUAL FILES")
Lab 1 Prototype World. this is the start point of the prototype world. The year is 1930. You have 200,000 in your firms cash account. You will have one competitor.