These worksheets suggest activities through which secondary school students may be introduced to the ideas of simulation. All can be played as games to give students a feel for the situation modeled; most use coins or dice and a few use random digits. Directions are detailed for each of the 17 worksheets, with variations suggested for many. (MMS)

In outlining futures techniques that can be used by school administrators for creative planning, this paper discusses several small group exercises. These include the "Six by Six" technique, in which a large group breaks up into six small groups for six minute discussions; the "PNT Approach," in which the length of each…

The paper provides a rationale for using a decision-making model in teaching environmental issues, outlines specific steps in creating a simulation, and illustrates its use in the classroom. The objectives of environmental education are to provide learning opportunities for students to know, think, choose, and act regarding pervasive social issues…

Designed for office occupations teachers, this guide presents seven critical incidents that provide students with practice in human relations. The critical incidents focus on the following topics: office rumors, excessive borrowing, remembering names, adapting to change, carrying your load of work, personal calls on office phones, and coffee break…

The program outlined in this manual is an interdisciplinary method of teaching required curriculum (plus additional skills) to elementary students within the framework of a series of activities that relate subject matter to real-life situations. The activities of the program are divided into four slightly overlapping phases or topic areas, each…

This manual is intended to help staff members improve the professional climate of their school by identifying the symptoms, diagnosing some of the reasons behind them, and offering means of improvement. There are two main sections. The first begins with a description of the program, and some concepts and theories about the school as a social…

This paper describes a computer-controlled simulation game designed to teach social skills to elementary school pupils. The major purposes of this man machine social system are to develop in students the ability to: (1) observe pupil behaviors in group problem-solving situations, (2) identify and analyze the relationship of these behaviors to the…

The Communication Program of the Far West Laboratory for Educational Research and Development is creating a self-contained training package on Instructional Planning for administrators, teachers, and others who plan, select, manage, and evaluate instructional programs. The training package consists of three sequential units: Problem Analysis, Goal…

Discusses the advantages of using content specific problem solving as a vehicle for undergraduate instruction in biology, and describes different software tools used to implement this model. The areas discussed include simulated laboratories, the construction of binary classification schemes using computer programs, and scientific writing using…

Describes a simulation of the results of real experiments which use different strains of Escherichia coli. Provides an inexpensive practical problem-solving exercise to aid the teaching and understanding of the Jacob and Monod model of gene regulation. (Author/CW)

Presents practical teaching suggestions selected from commercially available materials and also submitted by readers that can be easily adapted to different grade levels. Contains seven computer based ideas on topics such as computerized banking, database management, trigonometry applications, timing programs, keyboard use, and programming…

Describes adventure games, a genre of computer simulation games that require the use of creative and intuitive approaches similar to those used in online database searching, and suggests that they can be used in training online searchers to develop creative problem solving skills. Reviews of several available adventure games are included. (EJS)

Reports on emergence of decision support system (DSS) as a practical approach for applying computers and information to problems facing management. Information processing and decision making in organizations, simulation-model-based DSS in management of library resource sharing networks, and a resource-sharing simulation system are highlighted.…

Four uses of microcomputers in elementary science education are discussed. These include: (1) drill and practice; (2) simulation; (3) problem solving; and (4) programing. Indicates that mathematics instruction may be enhanced in the same ways. (JN)

Gaming, an approach to problem solving that engages a real life situation, is a technique particularly appealing for design students because it permits learning about the process of change in a dynamic environment requiring periodic decisions. Two games about consensus decisions are discussed: KEEPS and Senior Center Game. (MLW)