Wargames as Pedagogical Tools: Using Wargames for Higher Education

Abstract

Wargames and crisis simulations can be useful pedagogical tools when deliberately used. This paper explores the spectrum of pedagogical objectives; what use are wargames for learning? What types of objectives can they explore? How do you align the learning objectives with the right type of game? The paper leverages Bloom’s Taxonomy of learning as a method to guide game selection according to the desired classroom learning objective. For each type of game, the paper identifies lessons from higher education classroom use that others should consider before applying their own wargame.

Keywords:

• Wargaming
• educational games
• assessment
• learning theory
• active learning
• simulations

Notes

1 While the term simulations is popular in the academic literature, in military terms simulations are inherently virtual. Therefore, this paper uses the term wargames to include all types of games.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael Fowler

Mike Fowler is an Associate Professor of Military and Strategic Studies at the US Air Force Academy. His research interests include military strategy, intelligence studies, and wargaming. This article is the view of the author and does not necessarily reflect the view of the US Air Force Academy. Public release #: USAFA-DF-2023-377.