IMMERSIVE ONLINE
SIMULATIONS: A SCALABLE,
INNOVATIVE TOOL TO PROMOTE
CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS
AROUND LEADERSHIP DECISIONMAKING
TRENT GRUNDMEYER, DAVID DEJONG ,
& KEN SPERO
ED SIMS
UNLIKE A ‘MANUAL’ OR CASE STUDY, SIMULATIONS
PROVIDE USERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMMERSE
THEMSELVES IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN
EXPLORE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
THE LEARNING IS ACHIEVED BY ALLOWING USERS TO
CONSIDER OPTIONS, MAKE MISTAKES IN A SAFE
ENVIRONMENT AND DRAW CONCLUSIONS FROM THE
EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP AND RETAIN CRITICAL
THINKING. UNDERSTANDING WHY IS MORE POWERFUL
THAN SIMPLY BEING TOLD HOW.
“GOOD JUDGMENT IS THE
RESULT OF EXPERIENCE.
GOOD EXPERIENCE IS OFTEN
THE RESULT OF BAD
JUDGMENT.”
USES OF LEADERSHIP
SIMULATIONS
• ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT/ PLC
• EARLY-CAREER MENTORING
• ASPIRING SCHOOL LEADERS
• PRE-SERVICE PREP PROGRAMS
• HIRING PROCESSES
• EVALUATIONS
LEADING CHANGE
How does
Simulation
Provide
Experience to
Improve
Judgment?
Ken Spero - ELS Simulation - All Rights Reserved
@EdLeadershipSim -#EdSims
THE POWER OF EXPERIENCE
Ken Spero - ELS Simulation - All Rights Reserved
@EdLeadershipSim -#EdSims
WHY USE SIMULATION?
We have far more data, evidence,
and computer models to make
decisions today, but that also
means we have far more
information overload and excessive
choice proliferation. The number
and complexity of choices seem to
be growing beyond our abilities to
analyze, synthesize, and make
decisions. The acceleration of
change reduces the time from
recognition of the need to make a
decision to completion of all the
steps to make the right decision. …
Many of the world's decision
making processes are inefficient,
slow, and ill informed.1
1The
Millennium Project, “15 Global Challenges. Facing Humanity,”
last modified 2009, http://www.millenniumproject.org/millennium/challeng.html.
Ken Spero - ELS Simulation - All Rights Reserved
@EdLeadershipSim -#EdSims
WHY USE SIMULATION?
Experiencing Best Practices Enables Critical Thinking
Ken Spero - ELS Simulation - All Rights Reserved
@EdLeadershipSim -#EdSims
ED LEADERSHIP SIMS, LLC
EXPERIENCE IS THE BEST TEACHER
Customers - Districts
VT
NY
PA
NE
NV
CO
AZ
NM
KS
OK
TX
IL IN
MO
AR
WV
KY
TN
NC
SC
MS AL GA
LA
FL
New York City DOE
South Carolina DOE
The Harlem Children’s
Zone, NYC
Brevard County, FL
Hillsborough County, FL
Gwinnett County, GA
Henry County, GA
Denver Public Schools,
CO
ED LEADERSHIP SIMS
Bloomington PS - District
87, IL
Suffolk, VA
Allentown, PA
Caledonia Central
Supervisory Union, VT
Windham Southeast
Supervisory Union, VT
Associations - Universities
PA Principals Association
(PAPA)
New Jersey Principals
and Supervisors
Association (NJPSA)
School Administrators
Association of New York
State (SAANYS)
Association of Wisconsin
School Administrators
(AWSA)
Michigan Elementary and
Middle School Principals
Association (MEMSPA)
Michigan Association of
Secondary School
Principals (MASSP)
Vermont Principals
Association (VPA)
Teachers21 (MA)
New York City
Leadership Academy
University of
Pennsylvania
Old Dominion University
Lehigh University
Drake University
Viterbo University
Turnaround School Leaders Program
Grants
Rocky Mountain College
(Montana)
www.edleadershipsims.com
Auburn (Alabama)
@EdLeadershipSIM - #EdSIMS
215-565-5598
DELIVERY OF SIMS
1.
2.
3.
4.
WHOLE-GROUPED FACILITATION
SMALL-GROUP FACILITATION
INDIVIDUAL ENGAGEMENT
INNOVATIVE DELIVERY MODELS
(RENEWAL COURSEWORK, DISTRICT PD, STAFF
MEETINGS, LEADERSHIP MEETINGS, MENTORING
PROGRAMS)
ED SIMS
ARE THE SCENARIOS RELEVANT?
HOW EFFECTIVE WERE THE SIMS?
SIMS HELP MEET COURSE OBJECTIVES
STUDENT COMMENTS
I feel confident in my preparedness to handle real-life scenarios when in
the field. They provided a good training ground to try and make mistakes without
real consequence.
The simulation helped me figure out where I need to spend my time preparing
for the future.
These are a few of many examples, so they were beneficial to consider. The
mental process of going through these scenarios and the situations that
could arise are the benefits.
The Ed Sims showed me that I have still have much to learn when it comes to
knowing policies, at the district, state, national level. However, the Sims gave me
confidence in how I would respond to an issue in order to continue/establish strong
interrelationships with staff, parents, and community.
It was great to think about what I would do in these specific situations! Very valuable!
I enjoyed the Sims and feel much more prepared for scenarios similar to these in
future positions
STUDENT REFLECTIONS
CHELSEA
ERIN
CARRIE
EXPERIENCE THE SIMS YOURSELF…
WEBSITE:
HTTP://EDSIMSPD.COM/SIMULATIONS/
FACILITATOR QUESTIONS FOR
SIMULATIONS
• WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
OF EACH CHOICE?
• WHAT CHOICE DO YOU FEEL IS LEAST GOOD?
MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR THAT CHOICE.
• WHAT CHOICE(S) IS MISSING THAT YOU MIGHT
HAVE MADE IN THIS CASE?
• HOW DO YOUR DIFFERENT CONTEXTS INFORM
YOUR PREFERRED CHOICES?
CONTACT INFO
Ken Spero, CEO of Ed Leadership SIMs
215-565-5598
[email protected]
David DeJong, Assistant Professor of
Educational Leadership at the University of South
Dakota
[email protected]
Trent Grundmeyer, Assistant Professor of
Educational Leadership at Drake University
[email protected]