“Training should open with a bang. In virtual learning, training starts by having people do something. Even if they don’t understand exactly what they they’re doing, it’s ok as long as they understand they can ask for help as they go along.”

Schank and the ILS advocate just-in-time learning and interactive, CD-ROM game-like simulations. The multi-media simulations engage students to take action, wrestle with failure and develop emotional connections with the experience. Unlike scheduled courses, CD-ROM technology can be employed whenever the student is motivated to learn the material. The ILS method involves Goal Based Scenarios (GBS). GBS characteristics include:

• Goals are clear and agreed upon
• No telling or lecturing
• Teaching occurs only after learners fail
• Discussion
• Access to experts
• Simulation

“People need to fail in order to learn. Nothing anyone says (no matter how eloquent the speaker or insightful the words) will do any more than inspire you. You must internalize procedures to do a better job. To do this you must try them out and receive help when you fail”

Computer simulations versus live simulations:

Advantages of computer learning solutions:

• It’s cheaper over time
• It allows for failure without embarrassment
• Do it once and it can be used many times
• The same things happen each time
• World class experts can be the teachers if they have been videotaped

Live simulations have their advantages as well:

• They are cheaper initially
• They seem more realistic
• Different things happen each time
• World class experts can be the teachers if they are there

“It doesn’t make sense to learn something unless you use it immediately … The way learning should be done is just-in-time. The mind can only hold so much information for so long - when there is a lot of data, it should be conveyed just before its needed.”

How will educational delivery change? According to Schank, virtual universities will offer services via the Internet in competition to the existing secondary and university system. Introductory physics for high school and college will be put together by the world’s leading scientists and multi-media developers. Many offerings will provide a greater emphasis on life skills, with subjects such as:

• Stress management
• Getting along in groups
• Communication
• Cultural literacy
• Philosophy of life
• Health
• Math as needed
• Life decisions
• Business skills
• Daily physics (how things work)

“When learning isn’t fun, it’s not learning…. What’s fun is doing.”

Material for this article was gathered from Roger Schank’s presentation at the CEFPI conference in Columbus, Ohio, April, 1999, as well as Schank’s book “Virtual Learning.”

Roger Schank
Director, Institute for Learning Sciences
Northwestern University
1890 Maple Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
847-491-3636
schank@ils.nwu.edu
http://www.ils.nwu.edu
Recent book: “Virtual Learning”

Photo of Schank, illustrations and text by Randall Fielding

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