Innovative+technique-+Simulations-+by+Zeynep+Deniz

__**Comments: **__ EMRULLAH YASİN ÇİFTÇİ
 * Reflection on an innovative technique “Simulations” ** Simulations are one of the effective innovative teaching techniques and it is based on experimental learning. Simulations are instructional scenarios where the learner is placed in a "world" defined by the teacher. Teacher tries to create an environment in which student can interact. Teacher can control the unreal world and use it for his/her purposes. This technique is derived from constructivism and it aims to give opportunity to student to learn by observing the topic. To be able to create the unreal environment, teacher should spend a lot of time because she has to change the classroom environment according to topic. For example, if she wants to teach animals, she creates an environment like a zoo to provide students with reality. Thus, she puts colourful pictures on the walls and makes the classroom a zoo. It is very enjoyable for students especially young learners and motivated as well. Also, when they see the animals in their natural lives, they can have enjoy from it and be more willing to learn the topic. Moreover, students can learn the animals by a well organized classroom world instead of just looking at the book. With the help of this way, teacher can provide experimental data for students to learn the topic. Namely, teacher provides tangible material for students and this increases critical thinking of the students.  Furthermore we can adapt this technique for other purposes. We can use it as role play activity. Teacher should create a world for students and gives them a role and then students can learn better and get enjoy from the activity. Giving them a role is important because if they have a different role, they can be more relaxed and identify their feeling easily.  However, there may be some problems if you use it only. I mean, you have to use a follow up activity to measure whether they can learn the topic that you try to teach. In addition, some disadvantages may occur. First of all, this technique is time consuming for teacher and only teachers who have time and energy to teach students eccentrically achieve the aim of this technique. The other one is that it can cost much because to create an unreal world requires money. Since you try to create a new environment, you need to new material. So, you cannot use it for all topics that you will teach.  As a conclusion, I recommend everybody to use simulations in their lessons but they should be careful and aware of the disadvantages of the technique. Except from time and money issue, it is a very informative technique. Providing student with an environment in which they can explore the environment and interact with each other, they can be more willing to participate in it.

There 2 striking words in your text: "enjoy" and "relaxed". Today most of the students are demanding a more enjoyable way of learning and the innovative technique you found is really a good option for teachers to create a more enjoyable classroom environment. I totally agree with you that students would feel relaxed when they choose some roles and do some simulations. Their emotions would not corrupt their learning and they would feel more relaxed. However, as you said, this kind technique would require a huge amount of money so it seems a kind of dream for our state schools in Turkey, but some private schools have the opportunity create such classrooms for simulations. In that case, students would benefit this technique and they would enjoy learning English in a more pleasurable environmet. Thank you for making us aware of that technique!