“Active concrete experiential methods tend to work best for learning social and emotional competencies. Development activities that engage all the senses and that are dramatic and powerful can be especially effective.”

Strategic Interactions, Inc. pioneered Interactive Behavioral Simulations® to powerfully engage all of the senses, improving a learner’s communication skills and job performance in businesses, schools, non-profits, government agencies, and communities.

• What are Interactive Behavioral Simulations®?
• Why are they unique and effective?
• The Actual Simulation
• Benefits of Interactive Behavioral Simulations®

What are Interactive Behavioral Simulations®?

Strategic Interactions, Inc. created an effective, exciting model of training that involves acting out interactive strategies in a highly realistic simulated environment. These Interactive Behavioral Simulations® are similar to interactive videos, but because they are presented live, participants experience more of the physiological and emotional elements that are presented in everyday encounters with people. The Interactive Behavioral Simulations® model is best implemented in groups of less than twenty, although it has been successful in larger groups. The interactivity of Interactive Behavioral Simulations® empowers the participants to share their own expertise, ask questions, create effective strategies, and develop communication skills.

Why are they unique and effective?

The main aspect that distinguishes Interactive Behavioral Simulations® from traditional role-play is the use of SI’s Interactors and Learning Facilitators. Our Interactors take the roles of people with whom our clients interact with daily to teach effective communication skills. The Interactor’s primary purpose is to make the simulation extremely realistic, enhancing the learning experience of the participants.

SI’s Interactors and Learning Facilitators have advanced degrees in the behavioral sciences, and post-graduate training in education, human resource development, psychodrama, law, group dynamics and acting. Prior to each training session, the Interactors review information collected from interviews, research, observation, and teaching experience to develop the characters they will be portraying in the simulation. This process makes the learning experience highly effective for participants.

The Actual Simulation

An Interactive Behavioral Simulation® depicts a scenario that the participants are likely to encounter in their jobs. There are opportunities to explore unlimited outcomes through the interaction between the participants and the Interactor. Participants are able to “step into the simulation” to practice skills, strategies, ideas, and experience the results of their actions in a non-threatening, risk-free environment. The simulations are “frozen” at optimal learning points to analyze the dynamics, get input from the class, and receive coaching from the Learning Facilitator.

Typically, a diverse three-person team conducts the Interactive Behavioral Simulations®. During a training program, they rotate between the roles of the Learning Facilitator and the Interactor. As a result, the dynamics of each simulation are unique. This allows participants to experience their different styles and expertise. During each Interactive Behavioral Simulation®, there is one Learning Facilitator who processes and facilitates dialogue between the two Interactors and the participants.

During an Interactive Behavioral Simulation®, the Interactors take their role fully and realistically, never slipping out of character. The Interactor demonstrates what is beneath the character’s superficial behavior or subtexts. Interactors produce nonverbal behavior in simulations to give the participants clues about what is happening on a deeper emotional level and at the same time watch the participants from a trainer’s perspective, which allows them to help shape the participants’ target behavior.

Benefits of Interactive Behavioral Simulations®

The unique nature of the Interactive Behavioral Simulation® model provides numerous advantages to learners in organizations.

• Provide participants an opportunity to try out newly-learned skills and experience the results in a non-threatening environment.

• Minimize risk involved with decision-making, problem solving, and implementation of new strategies.

• Are cost effective for rolling-out performance improvement initiatives—simulations accelerate learning. Skills are easily transferable to real workplace environments because participants are able to practice, observe and practice again.

• Teach people how to deal with sensitive human relation issues like sexual harassment.

• Eliminate performance anxiety normally associated with traditional role-play techniques.

• Incorporate the emotional and physiological element of learning with the intellectual element.

• Facilitate dialogue among participants who can teach and model for each other in a positive learning environment.

• Entertain and engage participants.