USIP Open Simulation Platform

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United States Institute of PeaceUnited States Institute of Peace

Open Simulation Platform Open Simulation Platform


The USIP OSPThe USIP OSP

A ‘one stop shop’ to allow

Anyone

to easily create, conduct, refine and share

online simulations.


Talk Outline

Briefly Discuss “Why?”Then Discuss “What?”Then “Where” (Shooting for the ‘Interagency’ we missed, for now.)

Discuss “What Next?”You (How you can get involved.)


Why?


• We live in a complex and demanding world.• Peacebuilders need a far more holistic and nuanced education.• These problems need to be faced with sobriety and sense of urgency.


What I hear - I forgetWhat I hear - I forget

What I see - I rememberWhat I see - I remember

What I do - I knowWhat I do - I know


What?


A ‘One Stop Shop’ A ‘One Stop Shop’ ImpliesImplies

Many PerspectivesMany Perspectives


A Student’s PerspectiveA Student’s Perspective

An Instructor’s PerspectiveAn Instructor’s Perspective

Author’s PerspectiveAuthor’s Perspective

Not just hard

DARPA Hard!


Everyone a Sim Author?

Authors DefineAuthors DefineSimulation PhasesSimulation Phases


Authors Give the Authors Give the Instructors & Students Tools Instructors & Students Tools


A Simulation is a Set of A Simulation is a Set of Interactions over Time Interactions over Time


Where?


Number Two

Link to Videos: http://www.usip.org/events/next-generation-simulations-and-serious-games-peacebuilding


Recent Feedback (The Bishop’s School)

Student: It is really amazing how much potential the Open Simulation Platform has, and how beneficial it can be to helping achieve world peace. I am so lucky to be part of this event. From a Mediator's perspective using this technology has been a great experience. My ability to conduct a meeting with the chat and keep the team updated throughout pre-negotiations worked well. This is the first time this platform has been in use, and the ability to do everything one can is a dream come true. I am sure that in the future, this program will become even more excellent than it already is by fixing all the minor bugs.

Instructor: Today was great - the kids were using the Simplatform during class while they did research, and they were getting a lot done. It was actually really interesting watching them. They also seem really into it - they're excited about trying out something new like this. "Thanks" doesn't seem like enough, but really, thank you!


Recent Feedback (GW Instructor)

First, the simulation was a fantastic success by all measures. Upon the students' urging, we extended it to two full days and received glowing feedback on the educational value of applying concepts to "real life" situations using the online platform. In our debrief, it became obvious that the insights learned spanned the entire semesters' material and beyond. We have recorded the students' specific feedback, but suffice it to say that I am intent upon using this technology in my subsequent classes and sharing it with my professorial colleagues. To this I wish to add that the simulation was incredibly stimulating and enriching to run as the control.

Recent Feedback (GW Students)

Overall, I found the simulation an engaging and effective way of tying course principles together into a coherent, context-sensitive and practice-oriented lesson. In my experience, this is both rare and of great value; I was pleased to have the opportunity. It made everything we've been learning about so much realer to me and helped me to really understand how difficult peace building can be. I learned a lot about how intricate a situation can be and how many actors are involvedThe one thing that really got me was how every person in the room was involved in the simulation. This simulation made me realize that theory is so much different from practice. Even if we have a clear plan and good intentions, problems always happens… I have never been sensitive about how to write something as I was today. The simulation has taught me that peacemaking in conflict zones is exceptionally complex and cannot be oversimplified or idealized.

Students at GW University


The Chasm

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossing_the_Chasm


What Next?


Stairways Stairways ForwardForward


Tracking Data Tracking Data AutomaticallyAutomatically

1. In most simulations ‘things happen.’2. Players react to ‘things happening’ in

two predictable ways• The ask questions• They do things

3. We want to make it easy on the player to indicate what they are responding to

4. We want to capture this information so future instructors can leverage past experiences.


Allowing Universes to TalkAllowing Universes to Talk

1. In our original conception simulations all lived in their own little universes.

2. In the classroom setting, this is frequently not the case. Instructors will frequently have several groups of students in a simulation all at the same time.

3. The instructors may want to be able to push some information out to all of the linked simulations universes.

4. During the debrief, it is Extremely useful for the students to discuss and compare what they tried in their universe, and the results they achieved, with the other students.


You


It is Out There


Ways To Get Involved

• Get on our mailing list (just send me your email.)• Help spread the word about us.• Give Guidance (standards, scripting languages, etc.)• Help us write some APIs• Code for us! Become Outside Committer #1• Convince a coder, documenter, artist, evangelist, or

anyone with skills to come help us• Host a USIP OSP installation• Use the platform to create some simulations• Sponsor coders to help work on this system

We have a place for anyone with interest!


Docs.OpenSimPlatform.org

[email protected]

Thank You!

USIP Open Simulation Platform

Technology

Transcript of USIP Open Simulation Platform