The use of appropriate Educational Simulation systems (software and hardware for learning purposes) may contribute to the application of the "Learning by Doing" (LbD) paradigm in classroom, thus helping the students to assimilate the theoretical concepts of a subject and acquire certain pre-defined competencies in a more didactical way.…

An in-depth qualitative study with nine secondary pre-service teachers from an undergraduate "Language and Literacy" class was conducted to examine the potential of simulation using Second Life (SL) in teacher education. Games and simulations were operationally defined in the broadest sense to distinguish key characteristics between…

Effective facilitation of experiential learning involves an array of knowledge and skills. Educators who facilitate open simulations--one form of experiential learning--benefit from having relevant theoretical frameworks to sustain an appropriate balance between being directive and supportive of their participants' freedom to learn. This ongoing…