What is Skeuomorphic Instructional Design?

In graphic user interface design, skeuomorphic design is the strategy of making the interface of the computer look and behave like their real-world counterparts. We use a trash can or recycling bin icon for discarding files. On today's phones, we use our fingers to push and pull and pinch and drag. Even the Notes app uses different pens and brushes.  Skeuomorphic design, which started at Xerox' PARC facility with a mouse to replicate touch and a graphic user interface instead of command codes, ushered in the modern age of personal computing.  So what is Skeuomorphic Instructional Design?  Basically, it is the same thing. It is the process of creating educational content that presents situations to learners that mimic their real-world counterparts.  In traditional instructional design, we may lecture to people about 7 different leadership styles.  In Skeuomorphic Instructional Design, instead we may tell people they are 'a manager who just hired an engineer fresh out of college'. How much attention should you give that person during the first week and in what form? How do you react to surprises? The experience allows learners to play out decisions with feedback.  Skeuomorphic Instructional Design is getting so much enthusiasm because it makes learning accessible and useful, and much less academic and arcane. It is ushering in the modern age of education the way the graphic user interface revolutionized personal computing.  Skeuomorphic Instructional Design is more visual, less wordy, more intuitive, more emotional, and action focused.  Best of all, using the streamlined Short Sims pedagogy, Skeuomorphic Instructional Design can easily be embraced by any learning organization.