| FAQ
The level of difficulty of the simulation script will be the most decisive factor as to the level of language needed. Theoretically, it is perfectly possible to establish simulations for newbeginners, provided the communication takes place at a very basic level. Most teachers, however, feel students need a certain level of vocabulary and linguistic functions ( lower intermediate) to be able to run a simulation successfully. How many Internet connections do we need to participate in a simulation? Do all students need to learn to use the system? You only need ONE Internet connection. The TELSI environment is meant to be a tool for communication among the groups that participate in the simulation. You do not need to have the computer in the classroom, or move the whole class to the computer room. The discussions which form the basis of the simulation activity take place in class. When the class has arrived at a consensus about what they want to communicate to the other groups, you can send two or three students to the computer room, to send their message. However, some of the simulation steps may involve looking up for information about the simulation theme. To the extent that the students want to use the WWW as their source, you will need to have access to more Internet connected computers. The computers in our school are not exactly state-of-the-art. Would we be able to participate in a simulation even though we can’t use sound and video applications? What are the technical requirements? Although the TELSI software makes it possible to integrate state of the art applications in the simulation environment, the SIMULAB project has kept in mind the need of schools with limited technical resources. Simulation script writers are asked to keep state of the art applications optional until they have become the standard in all educational institutions throughout Europe. The minimum technical requirement at present is the use of Netscape 3.0. How long does a simulation run? The simulation time scope depends entirely on the script. The concept is so flexible, it is theoretically possible to run a simulation within one week, or keep the process going for a whole year. Most simulations will have a time scope of 4 to 8 weeks. Teachers and simulation supervisors are advised to make provision for delays caused by the different time tables in European schools (term tests, holidays, etc.) Do I need to write the script myself to be able to organize a simulation for my class? The TELSI software makes it possible for you to create your own script, but examples of good scripts will be made available in the future to teachers who do not wish to do so. Several scripts have been created under the Socrates SIMULAB project, and these are available free of charge. How many groups should participate in a simulation? This will normally depend on the nature of the script, but the ideal number of groups seems to be three or four. Real negotiations seem to need the existence of a minimum of three groups. With more than four groups, there is the risk that one or more of the groups will become passive. If your question about the SIMULAB concept and the TELSI software has not been answered in these pages, please send us a mail! Webmaster: 1999-03-30 |