Making School Development Experiential for Students

The Potential of Digitally Supported Simulation Games in the Context of Teacher Training

Abstract

In addition to pedagogical knowledge, subject knowledge and subject didactic knowledge, the continuous development of teaching and schools is part of the required professional competence of teachers. Therefore, the acquisition of innovation competencies as well as professional knowledge about school development should already be made possible for students during their university teacher training. This is exactly where a digitally supported business game comes in. Students simulate the development of a school, gain experience in managing a simulated school development process and reflect on the simulation experiences with the help of professional knowledge about school development processes. How exactly this seminar concept is designed and what potential it has with regard to the promotion of innovation competencies conceptually as well as from the perspective of student teachers, is outlined in this article.