Abstract
Simulations have become popular teaching tools in political science curricula. In particular, European Studies programs have often been complemented with all kinds of simulation exercises. Proponents argue that simulations have several advantages as teaching tools. This paper investigates pedagogical literature and presents a framework to assess the added value of simulations in European Studies programs. More specifically, the paper evaluates the use of simulations as powerful learning environments and as a way to increase affective learning among political science students. It presents the example of EuroSim, a yearly extended simulation, organized by the Trans-Atlantic Consortium for European Union Studies and Simulations (TACEUSS) by assessing the organization of the event and by using data from pre- and post-simulation surveys among student participants.
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Notes
- 1.
See the Annex for complete descriptive statistics.
- 2.
Due to an approaching snow storm, several schools left early to avoid any travel problems.
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Annex: Overview EuroSim 2007–2010
Annex: Overview EuroSim 2007–2010
| Â | EuroSim 2007 | EuroSim 2008 | EuroSim 2009 | EuroSim 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Venue | Buffalo, NY, USA | Otzenhausen, Germany | Buffalo, NY, USA | Antwerp, Belgium |
Host institution | Canisius College | Trier University/Saarland University | Canisius College | Antwerp University |
Simulation theme | Energy policy | CFSP/Kosovo | Fighting crime and terrorism under the Lisbon Treaty | EU-Russia relations |
Number of participating students | 157 | 176 | 217 | 201 |
Number of participating institutions (EU/US) | 6/11 | 6/12 | 9/13 | 9/11 |
Participating institutions | Babes-Bolyai University | Canisius College | Alfred University | Alfred University |
Canisius College | Cluj University | Canisius College | Canisius College | |
Colgate University | Colgate University | Cornell University | Colgate University | |
Cornell University | Cornell University | East Stroudsburg University | Cornell University | |
East Stroudsburg University | East Stroudsburg University | Hamilton College | East Stroudsburg University Hamilton College | |
Hamilton College | Hamilton College | Hanze University Groningen | Hanze University Groningen | |
Niagara University | New York University | London Metropolitan University | Maastricht University | |
Skidmore College | Niagara University | Maastricht University | New York University | |
St. John Fisher College | Skidmore College | New York University | Niagara University | |
SUNY Brockport | St. John Fisher College | Niagara University | Skidmore College | |
SUNY Geneseo | SUNY Brockport | Northeastern Illinois Univ. | St. John Fisher College | |
| Â | University of Antwerp | SUNY Geneseo | Skidmore College | SUNY Brockport |
University of Lower Silesia | University of Antwerp | St. John Fisher College | University of Antwerp | |
University of Saarland | University of Lower Silesia | SUNY Brockport | University of Bremen | |
University of Trier | University of Saarland | SUNY Geneseo | University of Salford University of Lower Silesia University of Saarland University of Trier | |
University of Twente | University of Trier | University of Antwerp | University of Twente | |
Widener University | University of Twente | University of Bremen | Widener University | |
Widener University | University of Lower Silesia | |||
University of Saarland | ||||
University of Trier | ||||
University of Twente | ||||
Widener University |
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Jones, R., Bursens, P. (2014). Assessing EU Simulations: Evidence from the Trans-Atlantic EuroSim. In: Baroncelli, S., Farneti, R., Horga, I., Vanhoonacker, S. (eds) Teaching and Learning the European Union. Innovation and Change in Professional Education, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7043-0_10
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