Simulations seem to be ubiquitous these days.  In World War II, crude "Lear Simulators" taught budding pilots how to fly before they had to go up in real planes.  By giving them some of the same instruments and movements as in a real plane, they were able to learn what to do—and more importantly what NOT to do—when they finally took to the air in a real plane.

Business is similar to flying: One must learn through realistic experiences.  Like the Lear Simulator pilots, those who learn through simulation are likely to make low-cost mistakes, but learn important lessons from them which apply to real-world issues later on.

A new business simulation, the Informatist (www.informatist.net) provides a 'trainer' simulation to high school and college students.  This massively participatory game takes many of the technologies used in online gaming and applies them to real-world business lessons.

A student is given an online name at (www.informatist.net) . , and starts in a fictional city.  Like in the real world, the student has little to start.  He or she is given a bit of money, a bit of land (in a poor suburb of town far from the best areas) and the opportunity to choose a profession.  As in real life, the student can choose to coast in life, not picking up skills and spending the money earned each day on beer and cigarettes (not really, but it sounds good!), eking out a living by digging ditches.  Or they can learn a business, such as undertaking or pharmacy, which gives the basis for strong growth in the future. 

Also as in the real world, the participant can invest in several businesses and grow a virtual empire.  Those who, like the ants, salt away their earnings and invest for the future, may end up passing the grasshoppers who leap ahead at first, but don't make the investments in their skills that will prepare them for long-term success.

Can you crash and burn in a business simulation?  Yes, just as you can do so in a Lear Simulator. But in a business simulation, you'll live to tell about your accident, and be able to relate the lessons learned to real business experiences in the future.