Simulation
Luminiţa T ĂSICA
Institute of Educational Sciences, BucharestHistory
Inspired from the natural human tendency to imitate, simulation has been known as an
educational method since ancient times, having been used successfully by Plato, Socrates
and Aristotle.
Mediaeval and Renaissance pedagogy develops simulative methods (modelling, imitation
and simulation, role-play and reconstruction) both in teaching and learning stimulation.
In the past century took place an individualization of methods based on simulation, due to
the development of the mathematical theory of models, strategic games, and decision-
making simulations. In the mid 1960s it began an intense movement to use programmed
simulation games in education and social sciences. The first computer simulation game
appeared in the United States in 1955 (called Monopologs), it belonging to the Rand US
Air Force Corporation and destined for the strategic training of military. The movement
extends over to Europe in the next decade, then it becomes internationally widespread. In
1970 the International Simulation and Gaming Association is created, and a rich literature
is written investigating the multitude of simulation programmes successfully used in all
fields. At the end of the 1980s there were already 12 periodicals on the subject and over
7000 computer simulation games.
Currently, simulative programmes are almost indispensable to any educational process
(classical or computer-based) and their efficiency in activating and motivating pupils is
unanimously recognized.
Progress without precedent in research and innovation has turned simulation and game
software (in business, management, marketing, education) into a global industry for