Frequently Asked Questions for education and non-profit organizations

1. Are your simulations computer based?
No. All of our simulations are real time, face to face simulations that require 1 to 4 hours to complete. They get their power from the interaction of the participants as they attempt to resolve conflicts, plan, solve problems and allocate resources in a simulated environment.

2. Can your products be reproduced?
No. All of our products are copyright protected and cannot be copied or reproduced. However, most of our educational products are reusable, so there should be no need to reproduce anything.

3. Are they stand alone experiences?
Yes, most of the time they are used as stand-alone experiences in the classroom. However, they are also integrated into summer camp types of experience. If you are going to integrate them into an existing program, you may want to give us a call as we have some suggestions for how to do that effectively.

4. Do I need special training to run your simulations?
No, we provide step by step instructions for running our simulations. They do require spending some time reading the directions the first time you run it, but after you run it once it will all seems very natural.

5. I have the students for only 50 minutes, will your simulations work with that amount of time?
The ethics simulation Where Do You Draw the Line? and our preventing sexual harassment simulation What is NO? fit nicely into a 50 minute period. StarPower and BaFa'BaFa' lose some of their impact if there is a prolonged intermission. The Power of Leadership needs at least a continuous two and a half hour period of time.

6. Do you have any new programs coming out?
Yes, we recently released the Power of Leadership simulation. We've received very good response to it thus far. We're presently working on a new ethics series. These structured experiences will build on the model of Where Do You Draw the Line?

7. Are you interested in publishing other people's simulations?
Yes. We are planning to publish 2 or 3 new simulations, developed by other people beginning January 2005. We are forming a committee of teachers to help us select the simulations to publish.

8. Do you ever run the simulations for schools?
Generally not. We do, however, consult with school districts and other charitable groups to help them make their curriculum more experiential.

9. I participated in BaFa' BaFa' a long time ago. Is this the same program?
We now have three versions of BaFa' BaFa'; the original version which is still sold to schools and charities, a middle school version and a new expanded professional version for corporations and government agencies (please call us at 800-942-2900 for more details).

10. Can I order from your website?
Yes, it is now possible to order our simulations for schools and charities online (business products must be ordered via phone). We are also happy to take your order or answer any questions over the phone at our toll free phone number (800) 942-2900 or, for international calls, use (858) 450-3400.

11. Do you accept credit cards? Purchase orders?
Yes and yes. You may place the order over the phone with a credit card number (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX) or with a purchase order number (in the United States). However, we require you to provide proof that you are buying it for a school or a charity.

12. Can I have it sent to my home address?
Yes, we will have it delivered to any address you want, provided this is a purchase for a school or a charity.

13. Is there a reduced price for schools or charities?
The prices you see on this website are reduced for schools and charities.

14. What if we live outside of the United States?
We will gladly ship to anywhere in the world. Orders outside of North America must be placed over the phone at (858) 450-3400.

15. I once ordered Guns or Butter from you. Are you going to publish it again?
Yes, we stopped publishing Guns or Butter at the end of the Viet Nam war but lately, we've been getting requests for it. We are planning on re-releasing Guns or Butter by January 2005.

16. How long have you been in business and has your company name always been Simulation Training Systems?
We started in December of 1969 under the company name of Simile II. We changed the name in 1990 to Simulation Training Systems.