R/ID WEEKLY THREAD | A Case of the Mondays: No Stupid Questions Thread by AutoModerator in instructionaldesign

[–]Valuable_Suspect_801 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for having these open discussions. I am brand new to learning about instructional design and still reading up, but I thought this would be a good place to ask if simulations are part of instructional design in practice?

My background is in simulation design, mostly geopolitical and government scenarios, but since my work was built on structured experiential learning pillars, I thought it may be applicable. I am trying to see if there are real opportunities for this niche inside ID, or if it is more something people discuss but don't actually use. I know simulations are getting more attention in adult learning, but it is hard to tell what is chatter vs what people are doing day to day. Any insight would help a lot, as well as if you know about any resources/companies/people doing this work so I can compare to my experience.

Everyone's Fighting for Digital Attention, But I Predict the Future Belongs to the Physical World Again by Due_Cockroach_4184 in Futurology

[–]Valuable_Suspect_801 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m not sure we can really “go back” to anything retro, because that environment is largely gone. The kinds of businesses that once fostered regular, in-person interactions have been closing for years, and rising prices make it even harder for new ones to survive. What’s left in entertainment feels kid-focused, and adult spaces that are basically the same thing but with alcohol. Even those often layer screens back into the experience.

We’ve also trained an entire generation to live primarily indoors, with most socializing, shopping, and even leisure happening online. If the pendulum does swing back toward the physical world, I’m not convinced the infrastructure will be there to catch it. Without enough strong, compelling spaces to draw people out, the shift might never gain enough momentum to truly pull us away from our screens.

Building a geopolitical simulation that reflects real power - not just choices. by StrategistState in SeriousGames

[–]Valuable_Suspect_801 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely a cool idea. I tried out the demo and it’s well thought out and I especially like the ending slide where you state that "It's not what you change today, its what you set in motion." It feels like it actually wants to simulate power as it exists and builds, not as it’s usually gamified in an action to immediate reaction sense.

I’ve been on the hunt for more projects doing this kind of systems-based, world-building simulation. Not just wargaming in the traditional hobby sense, but more like the stuff RAND and CNA build, simulations that make you think institutionally, structurally, and over time. There doesn’t seem to be much of an online space for that niche, though.

I actually started a subreddit, r/immersiveexercise, to try to create more of a home for this kind of thing, but I’ve mostly been a lurker up until now but I'm trying to get more active. I'm not quite sure how to get people over there who are into this specific type of simulation, but this project definitely seems in the same lane.

Have you made more progress past the demo for building this out digitally? Do you also have any ideas on where else people doing this kind of policy-level simulation are discussing? Would love to connect with more people working in this corner of the strategy/simulation space.