A publication has been published on transferring in-person social simulation to online environment: pedagogical reflections on creating teaching presence
The publication, created within the framework of the project “Simulation Games in Strategic Communication” (SimGames), focuses on the current COVID - 19 situation, during which full-time studies were transformed into online format, creating challenges not only for teachers but also for students.
As a part of the SimGames project, associate professors at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) Agnese Dāvidsone, Vineta Silkāne, assistant professor at ViA Anžela Jurāne Brēmane, assistant professor at Vilnius University (VU) Renata Matkevičienė and doctoral student at VU Austė Telyčėnaitė conducted a study on the transfer of face-to-face social simulation to the online environment.
The social simulation scenarios are being developed by three Baltic universities – Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Tartu University and Vilnius University, within the Erasmus+ strategic partnership project for training undergraduate and graduate communication science students’ transversal competencies such as being able to work with complex information, collaborate, negotiate, make strategic decisions and cope creatively with high levels of uncertainty and ambiguity.
First, study describes the specificity of the process, the choice of tools, the rules and the preparatory work before the actual simulation. Second, the authors outline the role changes: when a teacher becomes a mentor who can provide consultations in real time, follow the timetable, announce and coordinate activities and organize consultation-type “real-time” discussion to answer all prospective questions.
The SimGames project will continue until August 2021. It will result in the development of study methods that allow students to acquire skills and experiences for their career advancement through activities, which are based around real-world problems in blended learning environment, and through meaningful application of digital tools.
The European Union Erasmus+ programme KA2 (Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices) Strategic partnership for higher education project “Simulation Games in Strategic Communication” takes place from December 1, 2018 to August 31, 2021.