What I have come to appreciate most about SchoolSims over the almost seven years of using them is that they perfectly complement principal preparation courses and allow for pedagogical creativity in supporting competence development. Pedagogically, the simulations foster opportunities to engage students in course content while navigating realistic leadership dilemmas. These learning experiences make students' learning visible, providing opportunities for self-reflection, as well as instructor feedback or intervention when needed. SchoolSims continues to update its library, which means we are able to embed at least one simulation in each of our courses and multiple in our internship practicums. As we did this semester, we are also able to switch simulations in out of courses as our foci or objectives change. Our students love the simulations (they repeatedly ask for more), and the instructors in my program are committed to their continued use, particularly as we acknowledge that the role of school leaders continues to evolve (dare I say, grow) and time with aspiring leaders is limited.

As an instructor for school leadership preparation, it is my mission to prepare my students as leaders who are collaborative, reflective, and empowered to co-create responsive and supportive school communities. As such, I believe it is imperative to utilize experiential learning to the fullest extent. Although Educator Preparation Programs typically have a practicum/capstone experience, I want my students to continuously gain tangible experience through every course and concept. Do medical professionals or pilots wait until the end of their studies to start gaining experience? No. So, I do not believe educators should wait for a capstone experience either. Insert SchoolSims here! Their extensive library provides opportunities for students to be in the driver's seat to navigate the multi-faceted demands of school leadership. Here, they gain experience in a safe, risk-free environment as they conceptualize moving from theory to practice. From the stylistic perspective, SchoolSims Simulation offers a transformative learning experience through a choose-your-own-adventure format. They are authentic, applicable, and robust both in style and cognitive demand. To say my students love it is an understatement! Graduate students are busy juggling their educator careers/work, home life, outside obligations, and then grad school. It is rare they will ask for anything extra, but every time I do the sims with them, I get extensive requests for more sims to practice with. In short, having SchoolSims has been an invaluable resource and has taken my instruction to another level.

I frequently use SchoolSims in my undergraduate and graduate courses to engage students in collaborative decision-making. The sims contextualize the realities of teaching and leadership and prompt students to ask, "What will I do and why?" The soft competition within a class engenders discussion, debate, and deliberation -- the ingredients of thinking by doing. The sims are easy to use in both campus-based and online courses. All you need is a link that is easy to access via the SchoolSims platform.