Call for simulation resources

Get involved with Simshare – contribute a resource
We are looking to enlarge our store of resources and broaden our subject coverage. If you would like to contribute a resource to Simshare – from any discipline – and take advantage of the benefits of joining the project download our Call for sims (Word file, 58 KB) or see below.

We are actively seeking simulation resources developed for accredited programmes in higher education institutions. It doesn’t matter whether your simulation is designed to run in a single tutorial or to take up only a few hours of student time, or even if it lasts an entire academic year – we’re keen to host all types, all sizes of simulations.

Our team will work with you to repurpose your resources as open educational content and to ensure your contribution is recognised. The resources will be stored in a repository with an interface allowing users to search in various ways, as well as to view the resources as complete simulations, as part of larger modules, or as individual files or learning objects. You can help decide how your resources are made accessible (through keywords) and choose the licensing options you think most appropriate, and you will receive feedback on the resources as well.

What types of resources can I include?

• resources created to facilitate a simulation – scenario descriptions, character roles, case study narratives, witness statements, ‘real life’ artefacts to produce authentic environments (bank statements, genealogies, photographs, videos, maps, etc)
• links to websites through which you may run the simulation
• student and staff resources to support the simulation, such as descriptions to help students or tutors understand what’s going on in a simulation
• assessment criteria and materials, including standards for performance
• Web 2.0 technologies to support the simulation – podcasts, webcasts, online discussion forums, interactive professional tools, etc
• evaluation materials, for both formative and summative assessment
• academic papers or presentations given about the simulation, including presentations, position papers, internal working papers, peer reviewed publications
• useful links
• methodologies for integrating the simulation into pre-existing modules or subjects
• transcripts of lectures, seminar outlines, curriculum guidelines and other contextual resources relating to a simulation

Why should I join the project?

Joining the project at this early stage will allow academic staff to become part of a rapidly developing area of learning and teaching. Individual staff and prestigious institutions such as the Open University, MIT and Harvard are making educational resources freely available. Often, institutions use open educational resources as a way to attract new students and to advertise their courses.

There are significant benefits for individual academic staff and their departments. These include:

• the profiles of individual academics, their departments and institutions will be better known in their disciplinary communities, and there may be an increase in student satisfaction concerning the quality of learning materials as a result of participating in such a community of practice
• the impact factor of your department and your work through teaching and learning will be enhanced
• the OER may highlight existing and potential publications
• the resources may also facilitate improved international awareness of departments and individuals

Is there any funding?

A limited amount of funding is available to cover staff time in developing your resources as open educational content (not available for developing new resources).

I’ve got simulation resources I want to contribute – next steps?

Contact Patricia on patricia.mckellar@warwick.ac.uk who will introduce you to the appropriate members of the team.

I want to learn more about the project…

We hope that you will want to be part of this growing movement in higher education and that you are able to contribute your resources to the ever increasing numbers already being collated. If you would like to talk informally about the project contact Patricia.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010