The importance of simulation in teaching and learning economics: The students’ perspective

ABSTRACT

This article presents an innovative teaching and learning method based on three different simulations of multi-level governance settings. Public management at the local level is recreated using the SimCity computer game; the decision-making process at the national level is simulated through a national parliament simulation; and the intervention of the public sector at the international level is based on a simulation of the Council of the European Union. The main objective of this study is to assess students’ perceptions regarding how useful simulations may be for teaching and learning economics. The implementation of this teaching method demonstrated that the students perceived problem-based and role-play methods as useful learning tools. They also declared that their perception about the complexity of real-world problems has changed and that their political engagement may have increased thanks to their participation.

Abbreviations

SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals

KEYWORDS:

• Innovation
• simulation
• role-play
• economics
• 2030 agenda
• SDGs

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Javier Sierra

Javier Sierra holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Salamanca, Spain. He is a researcher and teacher at the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Salamanca. His research focuses on microfinance and financial inclusion, public policy evaluation, social economy, global studies and teaching innovation. He is part of the faculty staff at the University of Salamanca Graduate School. He is member of the Center for Research in Social Enterprises and Microfinance from the University of Agder, Norway.