Co-Creating Teaching Simulations with AI: A Practical Guide

For university professors and instructional designers, designing custom educational simulations has historically felt like an insurmountable project. Building a multi-branching digital scenario traditionally required specialized software development teams, graphic designers, complex game engines, and six-figure budgets. Consequently, most faculty remained locked into static PDF case studies, despite recognizing their limitations in modern classrooms.

The advent of generative AI authoring tools has fundamentally changed this equation. Rather than building from scratch or delegating the entire curriculum to outside contractors, educators can now co-create simulations with AI: leveraging generative models to draft the structural architecture while retaining complete academic control over pedagogical nuance and scoring logic.

The Authoring Dilemma: DIY vs Outside Vendors

Until recently, instructors looking to move beyond static text faced a frustrating trade-off between two extreme pathways:

• Building from Scratch (DIY): Complete creative control, with branching paths, character dialogue, and decision variables for the instructor to organize. Start by mapping the minimum viable simulation and identifying elements that need specialist support.
• Hiring Custom Agencies: Full-service development that eliminates instructor workload, but introduces high financial costs, long development cycles, and rigid final deliverables that cannot be easily updated when course syllabi evolve.

This bottleneck contributed to reliance on passive reading materials. In a landmark empirical study published in the International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Mary E. Hoeft (2012) found that about half of students say they do assigned course readings. In an era where students can summarize PDF cases using external AI tools in seconds, instructors may want to consider how to make preparation more active and consequential.

Experiential learning bridges this preparation gap. In an analysis for AACSB Insights, Ernie Cadotte (2022) notes that simulations convert theoretical knowledge into practical skill through David Kolb's learning cycle of assessing situations, reflecting on options, making consequential decisions, and observing real-time outcomes.

Before choosing a simulation format, ask whether preparation can become more active and consequential. Use participation and completion data as one signal of engagement, then pair it with evidence of learner reasoning and discussion.

How Co-Creation with AI Operates in Practice

Co-creating an educational scenario with AI is not about letting an algorithm generate random content. Instead, it follows a structured human-in-the-loop workflow where the educator provides the core academic expertise and the AI handles the narrative scaffolding.

Structure the workflow around three human-in-the-loop stages:

1. Ingesting Source Course Materials

The instructor begins by supplying existing course materials, such as a case study, lecture slides, an academic article, or learning objectives. Before drafting, identify the central dilemma, the stakeholders involved, and the decisions learners will need to make.

2. Drafting 80% of the Simulation Blueprint

In minutes, the AI drafts about 80% of the initial simulation blueprint. In general, a blueprint may include elements such as character personas, branching narrative paths, information architecture, and scoring rubrics. Educators can review and refine these elements to fit their learning goals.

3. Educator Polish and Refinement

The instructor reviews and refines the draft. As a general design practice, consider whether the dialogue, scoring approach, and time limits fit the course goals and classroom schedule.

Deploying and Monetizing Your AI-Co-Created Scenarios

Once an instructor has validated their co-created scenario in class, deployment and global distribution are immediate:

• Browser-Based Delivery: Simulations run in web browsers on laptops, tablets, and smartphones without software installation. LiveCase integrates with Canvas and Blackboard via LTI 1.3 for launch and single sign-on access.
• Studio Services (White-Glove Option): For faculty who prefer complete end-to-end support, LiveCase also provides Studio Services, where professional scenario writers build custom simulations on behalf of your institution.
• Academic Publishing and Royalties: Simulations can be distributed and monetized through partners including Harvard Business Impact, The Case Centre, and Ivey Publishing. Notably, 8 of LiveCase's 15 published titles are best sellers in the LiveCase collection on Harvard Business Impact, offering educators a recognized path to monetize case studies through academic distribution.

Build Your First Interactive Case Today

The traditional friction of simulation authoring has evaporated. By partnering with generative AI authoring tools, educators can transform their static course materials into dynamic, decision-based learning experiences that captivate modern learners.

Authoring and previewing simulations on LiveCase is free during early access, with no upfront credit card required. Learner sessions are priced affordably at $1.50 per student per run.

Discover how easily you can co-create your first interactive simulation by exploring the free AI Case Authoring Studio today.

FAQ

What does it mean to co-create simulations with AI?

Co-creating simulations with AI is a collaborative authoring model where an educator supplies academic materials and learning goals, and generative AI drafts about 80% of the initial simulation blueprint for the instructor to review and refine.

How should instructors structure AI-assisted authoring?

Start with the learning goal and source materials. Review the AI-generated draft, refine the dialogue, decisions, and scoring guidance, and keep the final experience under instructor control.

Do professors need coding skills to build an AI simulation?

No coding or software development experience is required. LiveCase offers AI authoring, and educators can review and refine the generated draft to fit their learning goals.

How are co-created simulations delivered to students?

Simulations run in web browsers on desktops, tablets, and smartphones with no software downloads required. Instructors can share a direct launch link or launch sessions from Canvas or Blackboard via LTI 1.3.

Related reading: grade class participation fairly.