educational simulations interface development
DESCRIPTION
recommendations based on 21 years of experience with respect to the development of educational computer simulations and gamesTRANSCRIPT
Educational Computer Simulations
Goals, didactical functions, technology, implementation and new trends
Piet van Schaick Zillesen
Senior Consultant Educational Computer Simulations
Components
Information about:
• Relevant activities of my organization• Concepts• Educational relevance of computer simulations• Didactical functionality • Technology and Development• How to use simulations in education• New trends
1 Organisation
My home base…
• Van Hall Institute• Business Center• Dept. of Simulations
Van Hall Institute
BUSINESS CENTER
Dept. Of Simulations Tailor made Courses
Environment+other green activities Food & Business
Van Hall Institute
• Part of Wageningen University and Research Centre
• 1900 students• 300 staff members• 7 BSc courses
• Business Center• http://www.vhall.nl
University of Professional Education in Agriculture, Food Technology, Environmental and Animal Sciences
Business Center
• 40 staff members• Tailor made training-courses• Applied Research • Educational Software
(Dept. of Simulations)• http://www.vhibc.nl/ (Dutch)
Independent Foundation for Commercial Activities
Dept. of Simulations
(educational) softwareDesign, Development, Implementation Support,Consultancy
• 10 staff members• Educational Simulations• E-learning• Decision Support Software• Special Products• http://www.pgsim.nl
2 Concepts
Concepts
• System• Model• (Computer) Simulation• Modeling environments
Concept: “System”
A system is a limited part of reality.
A system is isolated in order to study its behavior
Concept: “Model”
Image or description of a system
Types of Models
• dynamic• Space oriented , 3d (not supported by us)• real-time • stochastic• Object oriented• textual
Concept: (Computer) Simulation
Imitation of the behavior of a system by a model
descriptions:• The state of the system• Transitions depending on interventions
goals:• communication• predicition
Concept: Modeling
The development, testing and refinement of a simulation model (including system analysis)
(we do not develop modeling systems but we advise lecturers implementing these systems and develop prototype learning materials)
3 Educational Relevance
Goals and Educational Relevance
A student may use a simulation in order to:
• gain concrete experience by the planning, execution and evaluation of experiments with a simulated system
• train procedures with simulated cases
Sim
ulation type 1 Flow
endend
analysisanalysis
assignmentassignment
hypothesishypothesis
planningplanning
reportreport
evaluationevaluation
startstart
Simulation example
Procedures
The student needs to know:
• The steps of a procedure• The contents of the steps• How to apply these steps
4 Didactical Functions
Simulation: Didactic functions
Visualisation
Activation
Experimentation
Feedback
Information
Simulation: added Advise and Instruction
• Triggered messages• Step plan• Cases• Reports• Adaptive user interfaces• Context sensitive Help information• Links to contents information
Instruction components added to simulations in order to make the educational use more efficient
Simulation Demonstration
Remote (installed locally)
Training System Improvement
• What do I really want?• What does my present system look like?• What are my priorities and operational
targets?• How does reality compare to my goals?• What are the major bottlenecks?• What will be my plan of attack?• ATTACK• How does my system look now?• How does this reflect to my original aims?
Step plan Tool
Procedure Demonstration
Dairy Farm (off line)
5 Technology
The tecnological structure
Domains of knowledge
• Modeling• Programming• Interface
design• Contents
matter• Didactics• Project
management
The process of development• Preparation (good idea + money = good start)
• Start (development team + board of experts)• Design phase
•Didactical design (goals, context, functionality)•Model design (system boundary , structure)•interface design (visualization, control, feedback)•Technical design (software structure)
• First prototype• Evaluation (expert evaluation)• Second prototype• Evaluation with students• Internal check (4 eyes principle)• End product• Distribution• Project evaluation
6 Use in Education
Implementation
Decisions are made about:
• Learning method• Educational setting• Exercises• Type of advise and instruction
(depending from target group, pre-knowledge, didactical goals and other conditions)
Learning Method
• Discovery learning• Exercises• Learning with parallel instruction• Problem oriented learning• Scientific experimentation
Educational Settings• Preparation
• individual• group
• Simulation session• In front of a group• Individual• couples• groups
• Evaluation• Group discussion• Reports
7 New Trends
Trends
• Web Based Simulations• Integration with other Software Used in
Education
Why web-based?
• Worldwide availability: anytime anywhere• integratie with other on-line materials into
complete on-line courses• Simple maintenance and upgrading, because
of being present at just one place• World wide use of multiplayer simulations• Control the use (POWER!)
Structure of the Internet
Some techniques• html • javascript • java • dhtml • Xhtml • asp • Perl • php • css • cgi • activeX• Flash
Selection depending on:
•Respons time
•Database couplings
•Platform dependence
Flow
Modelleren
Java examples
• Application within a html page:
teaching Statistics to Medicals
• Several elements within a html page
Nutrient Cycle
• Separate form:
Course Population Dynamics
Integration of Software in Education
• Integrate with Electronic Learning Environments like blackboard, electronic testing, school administration, electronic classrooms, electronic portfolio’s etc. Example: HAO blackboard site
Questions?