Case for open ended simulations for learning.

it is usually argued that to provide feedback, learning games based on simulations should not be open ended, so as to provide feedback( and thus learning) when the learner takes an incorrect step. This feedback can be provided instantaneously at the time of mistake, or mostly after a certain direction has been travelled of the ideal path.

The case for open ended simulations lies in the fact that to encourage collaborative efforts outside of game environment and with supplementary reading material, there is need for factors to exist which can use extra information to leverage scores of learners. This requires either carefull selection of variables that can be handled by extra information or more easily, an open ended approach where the simulation is free and will respond if you have more control over a greater number of variables in the system.

A study that can be seen as a pointer is Betz(1995) who worked with SimCity 2000 and freshmen engineering students of Materials and methods. ( The use of computer and video games for learning, LSDA 2004, Ultralab m-learning )