A Review of Simulations to Support MPA Courses

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A Review of Simulations to Support (MPA) Courses

• John E. Dunning, PhD
• Troy University - University College
• Atlantic Region

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Interactive Simulations

• Purpose of this presentation
• To propose a classification system to evaluate
  simulations for MPA Hybrid Courses
• To identify relevant simulations by course
• To recommend a process for sharing information
  regarding MPA appropriate simulations.

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Interactive Simulations

• Background of study
• Review of simulation formats
• A system to classify simulations
• A review of MPA Course simulations
• A process for information sharing

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Background

• Simulations and the Future of Learning by Clark
  Aldrich
• Need to prepare for the "new learner"
• Demonstrations at Conferences
• Application efforts exceeded value
• Decision to test hybrid course formats
• Opportunity to use simulation models
• Assist other faculty in appropriate simulations

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Background

• Limited to computer based
• Stand alone operation (Web based or CD)
• Simulation formats considered
• Games
• Simulators
• Models

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Simulation Formats

• Games
• Formalized play with pre-set rules, feedback
• Teach competition, strategies, cooperation
• Benefits and Drawbacks
• Provide immediate feedback no loss of assets
• Participates may focus on a winning strategy and
  overlook lessons to be taught
• Examples
• Tycoon, Sims, SimCity, The Political Machine,

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Simulation Formats

• Simulators
• Emulate real-life situations and involve complex
  and continuous interaction
• Teach decision making skills in a variety of
  contexts that allow the participant to
• Test and validate strategies, tactics,
  procedures, organizational structures and
  functions
• Effectiveness - focus of this presentation
• Examples
• Virtual University and Virtual Leader

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Simulation Formats

• Modeling
• Participant experiments with a symbolic
  representation of a system compressing time
• Provides an understanding of how a structure or
  system works and the interaction between the
  various parts
• Effectiveness - focus of this presentation
• Examples
• National Budget Simulation, MassBalance, Budget
  Utah

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Proposal for Classification

• Criteria for evaluating simulations
• Cost
• Administration
• Operation
• Objectives
• Debriefing (will discuss issues)
• Assessment (will discuss issues)
• Rate each criteria on four levels

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Criteria

• Cost per Student
• High - Over 75
• Medium - under 75
• Low - under 30
• Free
• Issue - value of the simulations are uncertain at
  this time
• Need to keep costs low

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Criteria

• Administration
• High level of Complexity - professor must
  interact while simulation is in operation
• Moderate Complexity - professor must interact at
  each "running" of the simulation
• Some Complexity - professor is involved in some
  sessions after set-up
• No facilitation is required after set-up
• Issue
• high level of involvement will discourage use

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Criteria

• Operation of simulation
• High learning curve - Takes student at least 20
  hrs to learn rules
• Moderate learning curve - Student learns rules in
  10 - 20 hours
• Low learning curve - 5 - 10 hrs
• The rules are intuitive to most students
• Issue -
• Need to focus on application versus the rules

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Criteria

• Objectives
• Relates to at least one learning objective
• Relates to several learning objectives
• Actually achieves one or more learning objectives
• Integrates most course learning objectives
• Issue
• To have value the simulation must support the
  course learning objectives

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Criteria - Debriefing

• Students discuss how the experience contributed
  to overall learning objectives
• Professor lists vital questions as part of lesson
  design
• Important aspects of interaction
• Relate real life course concepts
• Relate successful strategies decisions
• As well as unsuccessful
• Relate level of goal achievement

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Criteria

• De-briefing of Simulation Experience
• None - difficult to relate to course
• Minimal Reinforcement - can relate a few
  decisions to course concepts or real life
• Some Reinforcement - can relate decisions and
  strategies to one or more course concepts or real
  life
• Reinforces Learning - can relate decisions and
  strategies to course concepts in an integrated
  manner

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Criteria - Assessment

• This is a controversial area - however
• Most formal learning systems have grades
• Does the simulation provide scoring?
• Does the score relate to course objectives?
• Can you obtain team or individual scores?
• Possible rules for grading
• Allow practice - score when ready
• Combine score with quality of debriefing

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Criteria

• Assessment
• None - simulation does not provide scores
• Low level - difficult to relate simulation score
  to learning of course objectives and concepts
• Provides team score - simulation score relates to
  course objectives but only provides a team score
• Provides individual score - simulation score
  relates to course objectives and provides
  individual scores

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Simulation Classification System
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Review of Simulations

• Organization Theory
• Organizational Behavior
• Governmental Budgeting
• Public Personnel Management
• Public Policy Analysis
• Ethics in Public Administration

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Organization Theory

• Virtual University - www.virtual-u.org
• Simulates running a university with the attitudes
  and behaviors of an academic community
• Players strive for continuous improvement of the
  university or fulfillment of a unique game
  scenario such as raising minority enrollment.
• Integrates several learning objectives
• Free for academic use
• Classification

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Virtual University
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Classifying Virtual University Organization
Theory
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Organizational Behavior

• Virtual Leader - www.simulearn.net
• ASTD rates as best 2003 on-line product
• Uses widely agreed upon aspects of leadership
• Integrates 5 of 10 course learning objectives
• Practice improves efficiency
• Cost 108 - academic version
• Not tested in course
• Classification

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(No Transcript)
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Classifying Virtual Leader Organizational
Behavior
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Governmental Budgeting

• Federal Budget - Model
• http//www.budgetsim.org/nbs/
• Student adjusts spending and tax expenditures in
  the 2004 budget in order to achieve either a
  balanced budget or any other target deficit
• State Budget Models
• MassBalance
• www.playmassbalance.com/
• BudgetUtah
• http//governor.utah.gov/gopb/budget.html

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(No Transcript)
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Classifying MassBalanceGovernmental Budgeting
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Public Personnel Management

• Human Resource Mgt - Bus Sim
• http//www.bussim-ed.com/
• Small business scenario
• but concepts relate to public personnel
• Quarterly decisions on staffing, development,
  compensation and relations
• Effectiveness evaluated over 3 yr period
• Free download for course adoption
• Team (25) or Individual (15) play
• Have not used in course

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(No Transcript)
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Classifying BusSim HR Mgt Public Personnel
Management
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Public Policy Analysis

• PoliSim 2.0 - Prentice Hall - CD version
• http//www.prenhall.com/polisim/
• A wide variety on interactive policy senarios
• Designed as a Supplement to Political Science
  texts such as
• Politics in America by Thomas Dye
• - 18 interactive scenarios
• - Can order CD separate for 24
• Have not used in a course

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(No Transcript)
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Classifying PoliSim Public Policy Analysis
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Ethics in Public Administration

• Quandries - A Dept of Justice Ethics Model
• http//www.usdoj.gov/jmd/ethics/quandary.htm
• There are 15 jobs
• In each job, you will encounter situations that
  present ethics issues, and given several choices.
  
• At the end of each job you learn whether you did
  well enough to move to the next level
• DOS based
• Free download
• Have not used in course

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• DEPARTMENTAL ETHICS OFFICE JUSTICE MANAGEMENT
  DIVISION
• Introduction to Ethics Training Program
• "Quandries"

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Classifying QuandriesEthics in Public
Administration
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The Challenge

• Need for a continuous forum for sharing
• Current Public Administration sites
• Limited information and links
• Information gathered for this study on
• www.padm.org
• MPA resources
• You are invited to participate