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SimCity in the Community Planning Classroom: Effects on Student Knowledge, Interests, and Perceptions of the Discipline of Planning

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Journal of Planning Education and Research

Published online on

Abstract

This article has three objectives. It first examines whether the latest version of SimCity can achieve learning objectives related to systems thinking, problem solving, creativity, and regional understanding in the classroom. Second, it examines whether the game influences student interest in planning. Third, it considers whether the game impacts students’ perception of the discipline. Using instructor observation, students’ game creations, and surveys, we find that the game can achieve the aforementioned learning objectives, increase student interest, and increase the perception of planning as being creative and fun. The results have implications for instruction, student recruitment, and perceptions of the field.