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Operation Outbreak: Exploring the Affordances and Challenges of Experiential Simulations in Education for Scalability

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Title: Operation Outbreak: Exploring the Affordances and Challenges of Experiential Simulations in Education for Scalability
Language: English
Authors: Kelly McNeil, Sharin Jacob, Quinn Burke, Stefani Pautz Stephenson, Digital Promise
Source: Digital Promise. 2026.
Availability: Digital Promise. 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 935, Washington DC 20036. Tel: 202-450-3675; e-mail: contact@digitalpromise.org; Web site: https://digitalpromise.org/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Information Analyses
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Simulation, Elementary Secondary Education, Student Participation, Learner Engagement, Barriers, Educational Benefits, Learning Experience, Technology Uses in Education, Games, Handheld Devices, Disease Control, Outcomes of Education
Abstract: This literature review examines the effectiveness, affordances, and challenges of experiential learning environments and simulations in K-12 education, situating Operation Outbreak within the broader learning sciences tradition. Simulation-based learning has been shown as a way to connect theory with practice by immersing students in environments where they can apply knowledge, collaborate, and make decisions with real consequences. Operation Outbreak extends this tradition by combining a mobile contact tracing application with a live, schoolwide event in which students experience and analyze the spread of a simulated pathogen in real time. The goal of this review is to identify the conditions under which experiential simulations yield meaningful learning outcomes and to assess the scalability of Operation Outbreak across K-12 educational contexts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED678843
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Operation Outbreak: Exploring the Affordances and Challenges of Experiential Simulations in Education for Scalability
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelly+McNeil%22">Kelly McNeil</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sharin+Jacob%22">Sharin Jacob</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Quinn+Burke%22">Quinn Burke</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stefani+Pautz+Stephenson%22">Stefani Pautz Stephenson</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Digital+Promise%22">Digital Promise</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Digital+Promise%22"><i>Digital Promise</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: Digital Promise. 1001 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 935, Washington DC 20036. Tel: 202-450-3675; e-mail: contact@digitalpromise.org; Web site: https://digitalpromise.org/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Simulation%22">Simulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Participation%22">Student Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+Engagement%22">Learner Engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Benefits%22">Educational Benefits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Experience%22">Learning Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Games%22">Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Handheld+Devices%22">Handheld Devices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disease+Control%22">Disease Control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink>
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  Data: This literature review examines the effectiveness, affordances, and challenges of experiential learning environments and simulations in K-12 education, situating Operation Outbreak within the broader learning sciences tradition. Simulation-based learning has been shown as a way to connect theory with practice by immersing students in environments where they can apply knowledge, collaborate, and make decisions with real consequences. Operation Outbreak extends this tradition by combining a mobile contact tracing application with a live, schoolwide event in which students experience and analyze the spread of a simulated pathogen in real time. The goal of this review is to identify the conditions under which experiential simulations yield meaningful learning outcomes and to assess the scalability of Operation Outbreak across K-12 educational contexts.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Simulation
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – SubjectFull: Student Participation
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      – SubjectFull: Learner Engagement
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      – SubjectFull: Handheld Devices
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      – SubjectFull: Disease Control
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      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
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