Teaching simulation literacy with evacuations: Concept, technology, and material for a novel approach

Abstract

As significant policies are based on their expected outcome in computer simulations, literacy of such simulations is necessary for political participation. In this paper, we propose ways to increase such simulation literacy. We discuss simulation literacy from a theoretical perspective and argue for simulating evacuations as a simple and potent topic to increase simulation literacy. Additionally, we present EVA, a novel educational tool to simulate the evacuating of buildings (not only) for classrooms. Lastly, we show different teaching scenarios and exercises for the usage of EVA in an exemplary way. EVA and further teaching material is available online at www.evadid.it.