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Reconsidering simulations in science education at a distance: features of effective use.

This paper proposes a reconsideration of use of computer simulations in science education. We discuss three studies of the use of science simulations for undergraduate distance learning students. The first one, The Driven Pendulum simulation is a computer-based experiment on the behaviour of a pendu...

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Published in:Journal of Computer Assisted Learning Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 491 - 503
Main Authors: Blake C, Scanlon E
Format: pictorial research Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Dec2007
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2007
      vid: 23
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      pub: Wiley-Blackwell
      place: Malden, Massachusetts
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        105269669
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        2010457727
        10.1111/j.1365-2729.2007.00239.x
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        atl: Reconsidering simulations in science education at a distance: features of effective use.
      aug:
        au:
          Blake C
          Scanlon E
        affil: Centre for Research in Education and Educational Technology, CREET, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK; c.tosunoglu@open. ac.uk
      sug:
        subj:
          Computer-Assisted Instruction
          Computer Simulation
          Education, Non-Traditional
          Education, Baccalaureate
          Evolution Education
          Human
          Physics Education
          Questionnaires
          Student Attitudes
          Students, College
          Videorecording
      ab: This paper proposes a reconsideration of use of computer simulations in science education. We discuss three studies of the use of science simulations for undergraduate distance learning students. The first one, The Driven Pendulum simulation is a computer-based experiment on the behaviour of a pendulum. The second simulation, Evolve is concerned with natural selection in a hypothetical species of a flowering plant. The third simulation, The Double Slit Experiment deals with electron diffraction and students are provided with an experimental setup to investigate electron diffraction for double and single slit arrangements. We evaluated each simulation, with 30 students each for The Driven Pendulum and Evolve simulations and about 100 students for The Double Slit Experiment. From these evaluations we have developed a set of the features for the effective use of simulations in distance learning. The features include student support, multiple representations and tailorability.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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