USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

In this tutorial we are going to set up a very simple simulation where two people can enter into to negotiate over oranges. Along the way we will discuss many core concepts of the OSP. Time to complete this tutorial is approximately an hour.

To complete this tutorial you will need access to an authoring account on an OSP server. If you need assistance getting this, please send an email to osp@usip.org.

Before You Begin It is probably worth noting here that this tool Assumes that the simulation author comes in with something in mind to work on - just as the blank page assumes that the writer has something to write about. To perform these tutorials, we have created some rather simple content, but the eventual content that you create using this platform will be (should be) much better. We are just creating the platform to allow you to become a virtuouso. If this platform needs improvement to allow your creative vision to come to fruition, send an email to osp@usip.org

 

Begin

 

If you are returning to this tutorial, you many jump ahead to any section below.

Table of Contents

1. Log on and go to the 'Create' section
2. Create your simulation
3. Enter your objectives
4. Enter your audience
5. Enter your introduction
6. Enter your planned play ideas
7. Skipping over creating phases
8. Create actors
9. Assign actors
10. Skipping over creating injects
11. Skipping over creating documents
12. Creating universal sections
13. Assigning specific sections
14. Write starter 'After Action Report' text
15. Reviewing your simulation

 

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	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 1. Log on and go to the 'Create' section

a.) Go to the URL of the OSP server where you have your account.

b.) Log in with the username and password you have been given. You will be taken to a page where you will be able to select the section of the OSP you want to enter. Depending upon the privileges you have on the system, you will see from 1 to 4 icons as shown below.

 

c.) Select the 'Authors' icon. This will lead you to the page below. Take a moment to read it and orient yourself on it.

d.) Across the top you will see the four main sections of the authoring interface.

• Think - Here we try to provide you some tips to help you in the hardest part of creating any meaningful and excellent simulation..
• Create - This contains the steps you will follow to create your simulation.
• Play - This is where you can play test your simulation.
• Share - This is where one can export or import simulations.

e.) Click on the link 'CREATE' in the top banner. This will take you to the 'Control Panel' shown below.

e.) Read through the steps involved in creating a simulation, then click on step 1, "Create New Simulation" to move on.

The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 2. Creating your simulation

a.) Fill in the information on the creation page as shown in the image below.

Tip: If other people are using the same server to do this tutorial, you may want to enter your initials for the 'Simulation Version', to help identify it as yours.

Tip: Only the name and verision of the simulation are really required for entry. All information that you enter here (and pretty much anywhere else in the platform) can be edited later on.

b.) Hit the 'Create' button at the bottom of the form. You should then see the information has been stored, as shown below.

c.) Select the link at the bottom which states "Next Step: Simulation Objectives" to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 3. Enter your objectives

a.) Enter in the information on the objectives page as shown in the image below.

Tip: In general your objectives will be much longer than the simple one shown below. This is where you really want to indicate clearly, to all who read or use this simulation in the future, what your original intent was.

b.) Hit the 'Save and Proceed' button to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 4. Enter your audience

a.) Fill out the 'Simulation Audience' form as shown below.

Tip: In general you will add much more information in this section. At this stage you are considering who your audience is, and the more you think about who they are, the better you will be able to reach them.

b.) Hit the 'Save and Proceed' button to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 5. Enter your introduction

a.) Fill out the 'Simulation Introduction' similarly as shown below.

Tip: This will probably be the first thing that people entering into your simulation will read. You may have to come back and revisit this page many times to get it just right.

b.) Hit the 'Save and Proceed' button to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 6. Enter your planned play ideas

a.) Fill out the 'Planned Play Ideas' form as shown below.

Tip: Hitting the (?) symbol will give you more information about this task.

b.) Hit the 'Save and Proceed' button to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 7. Skipping over creating phases

a.) Observe the 'Create Phases' page. We will not be creating or editing phases here. That will be covered in the next authoring tutorial.

Tip: A 'phase' is whatever the simulation author wants it to be. Some examples might be 'Negotiate' phase, or 'Reflect' phase. At any given phase each actor can have a completely different set of things that they can see or do. For example, players may be able to chat electronically with each other in one phase (we will see how we can enable that later in this tutorial) but not be able to chat electronically later on.

b.) Select the link 'Next Step: Create Actors' to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 8. Create actors

a.) Create the 'Orange Salesman' (who is the 'control' character) as shown below. Enter in the data as show, and then click on the 'Create' button.

Tip: Make sure that you select the 'Control' checkbox for this (and only this) actor.

b.) After you have created the Actor, you may set the image files for them.

You will need to browse the server, and then select the appropriate files.

When you are done, it should look like the image below:

c.) After you create the actor, they should appear as shown in the figure below. Hit the 'Clear' button at the bottom of the page to get ready to create the next actor. (The 'Clear' button is circled in red in the image below.)

d.) Create 'Player A' as shown below. Enter in the data as show, and then click on the 'Create' button.

e.) Hit the 'Clear' button at the bottom of the page to get ready to create the next actor.

f.) Create 'Player B' as shown below. Enter in the data as show, and then click on the 'Create' button.

g.) Select the link 'Next Step: Assign Actor to Simulation' (located at the far bottom of the page) to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 9. Assign actors

a.) Observe the 'Assign Actors' page. It should look similar to the image below.

Tip: The Difference between 'Associated' and 'Assigned' Actors can be 'associated' with a simulation. This means that changes to an actor affect the particular actor that has been associated with that simulation. Actors of the same name can exist in many simulations; for example many simulations may have an actor entitled 'Facilitator.' But each simulation will have its own version of that actor. Imagine this scenario: Simulation author Joe creates a simulation, and in it creates an actor entitled 'Henry Kissenger.' Simulation author Mary creates a different simulation and in it creates an actor called 'Henry Kissenger.' Both simulations have actors named 'Henry Kissenger.' But the one Joe created is associated with his simulation, and the one Mary created is associated with her simulation. Actors can also be 'assigned to' a simulation. This means that when a simulation starts, a player may be assigned to this actor. It is possible for an actor to be associated with a simulation, but not assigned to it. During the process of developing a simulation it is likely that an initial simulation will be created, and that it will be tested out with a group of players. This 'play testing' may help reveal many issues, and is highly recommended. During play testing one may want to try out different sets of actors to find the optimal mix. So the group of associated actors can provide an active 'stable' of actors from which the author(s) can pull. But the set of actors that can be assigned in each simulation can be adjusted to try out different variations. ("Does our simulation need the French Ambassador? Maybe, maybe not. Let's try it out both ways and find out.")

b.) Select the link 'Next Step: Add Objects' to move on to the next step.

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 10. Add Objects - Create a Conversation

a.) Observe the 'Add Simulation Objects' pages. On this page one adds things to a simulation: conversations, documents, parameters that can change, etc.

It will be possible to reach many of these 'object creation' pages from other places, but this is one convenient place to quickly access the objects that your simulation may need. We are creating a conversation at this point in anticipation that it will used later. In a following step, you will see where.

We will only be creating a conversation here. The other items will be covered in future authoring tutorials.

Tip: Injects (also sometimes called events) are things that may happen to the players during a simulation. For example, things may be going along fine for the players, and then the facilitator will hit them with a general strike, or a terrorist attack, or whatever the scenario calls for. Injects provide learning opportunities for the players and allow them to call into action some of the lessons they have been taught. Tip: The 'Add Document' link will take authors to a place where they can add documents to the simulation that the students and facilitators can read and write to. For example, if the simulation calls for the students to work on a contract together, that would be a document added to the simulation.

b.) Select the link 'Add Conversation.' This will take you to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 11. Create a Conversation

a.) Observe the 'Create / Edit Conversation' page.

b.) Fill out the form as follows:

1. Unique Conversation Name: orange_chat
2. Conversation Notes: A Market Place
3. Control: Checked
4. Player A: Checked
5. Player B: Checked

c.) Hit the 'Create' button. The page should then appear as shown below.

d.) Select the back arrow (circled above) to move back to the 'Add Objects' page.

e.) Select the link 'Next Step: Assign Simulation Sections to Actors' to move on to the next step.

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 12. Creating universal sections - Part A

a.) Observe the 'Set Universal Simulation Sections' form shown below. This form shows the tab heading that will be seen by the players during the phase selected. Observe that:

1. The phase, as indicted in the upper right hand corner, is the phase 'Started.'
2. Every player currently has two sections automatically assigned to them at this phase: Introduction and Schedule.
3. In the lower left hand corner is pulldown menu of new sections to add.
4. In the lower right hand is the 'Add Section' button which will add that section to all actors at this phase.
5. In the center is an icon (currently for the 'After Action Report') for the section that is queued up to add.

Tip: A 'universal section' is one that will be applied to all actors at that phase. An author can then go in and remove it from some actors.

b.) Observe the list of sections one can add to one's simulation. A sample image of a list is shown in the image below, but this list will change depending upon a.) what sections have been loaded on your installation, and b.) what sections have already been customized for this particular simulation.

This list contains (from top to bottom) 4 different kinds of sections that one can add:

1.) Sections that require no customization.(white backgrounds)
2.) Sections that require customization
3.) Sections that have been customized, that have already been added.

While the list is long, it represents all of the things one can 'add' to a player's world. If, for example, one wants the players to be able to communicate via in-game email, one would add the 'Email' section.

 

c.) Select 'Cast' from the pulldown and then click the 'Add Section' button.

 

d.) You will be taken to a page where you can customize the 'Cast' page.

e.) Select 'Yes' for the question "Cast page will display control characters ?"

f.) Select 'Save and Add Section.' This will return you back to the 'Set Universal Sections' page.

Tip: 'Save and Add' When you 'Save and Add' a section you are not only making changes to it, you are also adding it to the actor being worked on (or all actors if you working on the universal sections) during the current phase that you are working on. After you have 'Saved and Added' a section, you will have the option to 'Save' changes to it later on. Modifying it will not affect which actors will have access to it.

g.) Continue on to the next page in this tutorial.

 

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 12b. Creating universal sections - Part B. Adding a Meeting

a.) Select 'Meeting' from the pulldown and then click the 'Add Section' button.

b. Customize the Meeting room as shown below, and then select 'Save and Add Section to Conversants'

Tip: Make sure you select the conversation 'orange_chat' that you created before.

 

Tip: You will not see the 'Market' listed in the universal sections. This is because one selects the actors that can participate in a meeting room, and not all of them may have been selected. These selections will show up when you look at the individual actors, which is the next step.

c.) Use the control in the upper right hand corner to to change phase to the completed phase.

Tip: First select the phase 'Completed' and then push the 'Change Phase' button.

to to

 

d.) Observe that 'AAR' has already been added to the the 'completed' phase as shown below.

e.) Add the 'Cast' phase, as done before, to this 'Completed' phase.

Tip: We are not adding the 'Meeting' to the Completed phase, since by then the meeting has completed.

f.) Change phase back to the 'Started' phase.

g..) Select the link 'Next Step: Customize Sections for the Actor Orange Salesman' to move on to the next step.

 

 

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	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 13. Assigning specific sections

a..) Observe the Actor Orange Salesman's sections in the Started phase.

Tip: The Actor Orange Saleman will have an additional section during play. All control characters have a red 'Control' tab at the far right of their list to allow them to do things such as make announcements and move the simulation along.

 

b..) Change phase to the 'Completed' phase and observe that the Orange Salesman Actor has three simulation sections: 'AAR', 'Cast', 'Change Phase'.

c.) Change phase back to 'Started.'

d.) Select the link 'Next Step: Customize Sections for the Actor Player A' to observe the sections that have been added to Player A in the 'Started' phase.

d.) Select the link 'Next Step: Customize Sections for the Actor Player B' to observe the sections that have been added to Player B in the 'Started' phase.

e.) Change the phase to 'Completed' to see the sections that Actor Player B has in that phase. You should see just two sections: 'AAR' and 'Cast.'

f.) Select the link "Next Step: Enter 'After Action Report' Starter Text " to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 14. Write starter 'After Action Report' text

a.) Click on the HTML button (shown in the image below) to put the editor window into HTML Mode.

b.) Download this text file with AAR starter text in it.

c.) Copy and paste the text above into the editor window and hit 'Save.'

Tip: You don't ever really need to work with raw HTML. We included the HTML file above to make doing this tutorial a little faster.

d..) Hit the 'Save and Proceed' button to move on to the next step.

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 15. Reviewing your simulation

a.) Observe the review page. It should indicate all the steps you have taken so far.

Tip: From the Review Page you immediately go back to any section that needs editing and work on it.

b.) If you would like to compare your results with what we got, click here to see our review page.

Tip: At this point one could start to play test a simulation to make sure it achieved its objectives. There is a link to move immediately onto the play testing at the bottom of the review page. We are going to push on to the next step, that of publishing this simulation so that it will be in the online library and can be used in our next tutorial "Simulation Conducting 1."

c.) Select the link 'On To Publish the Simulation' to move on to the final step.

 

 

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.

	USIP OSP Tutorial - Simulation Authoring 1.0	Help!

Step 16. Publishing your simulation

a.) Observe the publishing form. It should similar to the form shown below.

b.) Enter the keywords "tutorial, negotiation, interests, positions" and hit the publish button.

c.) Observe that the publish form looks similar to the one shown below.

 

Congratulations!

You have finished the first tutorial and have learned about simulation phases and simulation sections. (Two of the hardest concepts many people encounter.)

 

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The USIP Open Simulation Platform is a USIP Open Source Software Project.