CAREER SIMULATIONS: What if instead of learning in a classroom students could transport (virtually, at least) to a snapshot of their career and learn skills based on experience? It sounds like sci-fi but isn’t far off, thanks to the U.S. Department of Education’s EdSim challenge, which announced its top five finalists today. The contest “called upon the virtual reality, video game developer and educational technology communities to submit concepts for immersive simulations that will prepare students for the globally competitive workforce of the 21st century,” a press announcement reads. Out of 249 submissions, the finalists are:
Each finalist will receive $50,000. The final winner, who will win $430,000, will be decided this summer.