# From Measuring Memory to Measuring Thinking: How Simulation-Based Learning Could Reshape Higher Education By Darin Francis · Published 2026-06-15 · Updated 2026-06-26 · Education Technology on MarketScale Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/from-measuring-memory-to-measuring-thinking-how-simulation-based-learning-could-reshape-higher-education > As artificial intelligence continues reshaping the workforce, higher education faces growing pressure to demonstrate its value beyond content mastery. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, employers expect 39% of workers' core skills to change or become o ## Key points - AI is changing workforce skill requirements. - Higher education must focus beyond content mastery. - Simulation-based learning can enhance critical thinking skills. As artificial intelligence continues reshaping the workforce, higher education faces growing pressure to demonstrate its value beyond content mastery. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, employers expect 39% of workers' core skills to change or become outdated by 2030, while 69% identify analytical thinking as the most essential workforce skill. As a result, employers are increasingly prioritizing critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities—capabilities that AI cannot easily replicate. If employers care less about what students can memorize and more about how they think, how can colleges effectively measure and develop those durable human skills at scale? On this episode of Signals in Higher Ed, host Darin Francis sits down with Chad Wilson, Founder and CEO of immersionED, to explore how AI-powered simulations are creating new opportunities for experiential learning. Wilson shares his journey from studying history and classics to founding an education technology company focused on immersive, adaptive learning experiences. Together, they discuss how simulation-based learning can bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and workforce readiness while offering institutions new ways to assess student growth. Key takeaways from the conversation… Chad Wilson is the Founder & CEO of immersionED, a Techstars-backed edtech startup building AI-powered adaptive simulations that measure learners’ reasoning, decision-making, and competencies in real time. He brings a rare mix of education, product, venture, and finance experience, having worked as a high school history teacher, EdTech investing intern at Owl Ventures, and investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley. His career highlights include growing immersionED to roughly 4,000 school signups, raising funding from angels and accelerators, partnering with organizations such as Arizona State University, The Gilder Lehrman Institute, and NVIDIA, and improving student engagement and test scores through game-based learning. Article written by MarketScale. Tags: AI in education, Chad Wilson, critical thinking, experiential learning, Future of Work, generative AI, higher education, ImmersionED, immersive learning, Learning Innovation --- Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/education-technology/from-measuring-memory-to-measuring-thinking-how-simulation-based-learning-could-reshape-higher-education. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt