![]() |
American Government Simulation |
||||||||||||||||
|
2009-10
|
2009-10 Edition now Available The Game of Politics© American government simulations use role playing to make American politics come alive. These national government classroom and online simulations create an active learning experience, and are appropriate for secondary or higher education government classes, continuing education courses, civic education conferences, community organizations or elder hostel. Click here to see recent research on the simulation's dramatic impact on student learning of traditional course content. These gains are in addition to the simulation's impact of greater student involvement with the subject matter.
FREE: Those ordering The Game of Politics© simulation will also receive a free copy of the Terra Nova© simulation for Introduction to Politics and Political Theory courses. Click here to learn more about this extra benefit for The Game of Politics© coordinators. Click the navigation buttons to examine materials from both the macro and micro simulations. Read evaluations from participants and coordinators, take the simulations on a test drive, get answers to frequently asked questions, contact the author or find out how to place an order. Set a few years in the future, The Game of Politics© macro simulation (3-12 sessions) is a comprehensive and cost-effective simulation of American government that includes all three branches of the national government. This macro simulation brings the subject matter to life and enables the 15-75 participants to gain an insider’s view of our political process. This simulation game has been carefully designed and tested to produce an effective active-learning experience. A typical session of The Game of Politics© macro simulation begins with a media report on events from the previous session. This is followed by press conferences from participants and “outsiders” who give a human face to the Story Lines. Then participants divide into legislative, executive and judicial work groups to generate policy decisions. During work sessions participants receive material from Story Lines reflecting a volatile political environment. Then, the participants make decisions based on their best assessment of the situation. The micro
simulation alternatives to the macro simulation use material from the original game and
are full-featured, but allow
users to run even smaller and shorter simulations. These five micro
simulations focus on committee decision-making (for 4-12 players), the
overall legislative
process (19-52) the dynamics of presidential decision-making
(5-8) the
politics of Supreme Court decision-making (8-16) and the national budgetary
process (7-12). Yet, even these
micro simulations place activities within a larger context of
public policy debates through Story Lines and an active media role.
Participants never lose sight of the big
picture. The Game of Politics© macro simulation is best suited to survey courses or conferences (15-75 participants) where you wish to be more comprehensive, have plenty of interaction between branches, plus have the possibility of up to 12 sessions. The micro simulations are best suited to upper level or highly specialized classes or focused introductory courses with generally smaller enrollments (most are in the 4-16 range) and can be accomplished in fewer sessions. All simulations have been class tested to ensure that effective learning takes place and they can be “plug and play” experiences for the simulation coordinator. Classroom versions (whether on paper or CD-Rom) come complete with all manuals, a liberal site license and two sets of Story Lines. Online versions include all manuals a liberal site license and Story Lines that are organized for easy uploading to a web platform or email accounts. The Game of Politics© is being used at undergraduate, graduate and secondary educational institutions in the United States and abroad (from Japan and Viet Nam to Bahrain). It has also been selected for presentation before the (1) American Political Science Association, (2) International Civic Education Research Organization, (3) APSA Teaching and Learning Conference, (4) Midwest Political Science Association, (5) National Center For Political Engagement, (6) Northeastern Political Science Association, (7) Southwestern Political Science Association and (8) Eastern Community College Social Science Association.
Click on the How to Order button on this web page for more information on available alternatives and the new Annual Update Program. ***** To receive a free newsletter with more information about the simulations send an email to janstrat@verizon.net. Be sure to include your name, institutional affiliation and email address.
|