The Easiest Path to Experiential eLearning
Three Examples of Short Sims
These three videos of Short Sims, narrated by Clark Aldrich, show some of the different approaches possible. Click on a question.
How can the principles of video game design be applied to eLearning?
This Short Sim shows how game mechanics like immersiveness, challenges, feedback, and coaches can be used to improve results.
In certification programs, how can learners gain performance confidence?
This example demonstrates how Short Sims allow learners to practice real decisions in a safe environment, building confidence through repetition and feedback.
How can eLearning be more game-like to develop understanding?
This Short Sim illustrates how structure, pacing, and choice can create a game-like experience that deepens understanding without sacrificing professionalism.
What Are Short Sims?
Experiential learning is great. But in the past it has been too expensive and brittle for online use. Short Sims solve this. They compress the essential mechanics of a full simulation into a short, reusable experience that mirrors real decisions. And they go down smooth.
- Engaging without unnecessary complexity
- Simple to create, update, audit, and deploy
- Built using industry-standard tools and skills
- Effective for everything from soft skills to certification
Why Short Sims Work — by Audience
Organizations that use both Short Sims and traditional content increase their use of Short Sims and decrease their use of traditional content over time. Here's why:
For Learners
Short Sims speak the language of every learners. Because they match learning in the real world. Learners leave Short Sims confident and confortable because they earn the new skills.
For Learning & Training Teams
Short Sims are predictable and time efficient to create. They can be made in about the same time and with about the same skills as traditional educational content. But the new pedagogy makes all of the difference. They are easy for teams to review, annotate, and make changes. Even years later, the content in a Short Sim can be easily accessed and updated.
For Business Leaders
Short Sims drive new right behaviors, and just as importantly, they greatly reduce wrong behaviors. And they work on everything from technical and certification skills to leadership.
How You Can Work with Short Sims
Create Your Own Short Sims
Learn the underlying pedagogy and design process in a guided workshop. You will leave knowing how to design, build, and iterate on Short Sims using industry-standard tools.
$75
Enroll in the Short Sims WorkshopUse Proven Self-Management and Team-Management Short Sims
Deploy ready-made Short Sims focused on leadership, judgment, and decision-making — already tested and ready to use.
Pricing available upon request
Learn moreRequest information
Commission Custom Short Sims
Work directly with Clark Aldrich to design Short Sims tailored to your organization’s specific challenges, culture, and constraints.
Pricing available upon request
Learn moreStart a conversation
▶ Short Sims are designed and built by Clark Aldrich
More than two decades ago, in his award-winning 2005 book Learning by Doing, Clark Aldrich identified four dominant types of simulations:
- branching stories
- interactive spreadsheets
- virtual products
- game-based models
Each had strengths, but also significant weaknesses. Over the following 15+ years, Aldrich refined, combined, and pressure-tested these simulations in real organizational settings, with real constraints. What emerged was a single, coherent pedagogy, SCORM compliant and buildable using industry standard tools.
The result is Short Sims.
"Why can't schools teach leadership?" This single question has motivated Clark Aldrich for three decades, down a path that, along the way, resulted in him being a leading voice and pioneering practitioner in experiential learning and leadership and culture development, and whose work has shaped major trends in education, training, and simulation-based learning. Bio here .