Teaching through the use of games and simulations

This paper describes the use of games and simulations in teaching criminal justice students and those in the related social sciences. The authors have utilized a two-week interim session (following the spring semester) to use this approach in illustrating a wide variety of concepts such as political power, conflict, cooperation and negotiation as applied to criminal justice and other governmental agencies. Two types of teaching tools--small group board games and large group simulations--have been utilized. While the interim class sessions run two and one-half hours each, many of the games and simulations are adaptable to shorter time periods or multiple class periods and, thus, are useful teaching devices for regular school terms¹.