S Lyon's Technology Blogs

Using Simulations in the Classroom

Description

According to De Jong and van Joolingen (1998), ?a computer simulation is a program that contains a model of a system or a process.?  According to Cyber Media Creations (http://www.cybermediacreations.com/elearning/glossary.htm), simulations are ?highly interactive applications that allow the learner to model or role-play in a scenario and enable the learner to practice skill or behaviors in a risk-free environment?.  The ?risk-free environment? could be very important in a science classroom where the material necessary for students to fully understand a concept may not be readily available.  Students can also manipulate a situation without causing a ?true? damage.  In a mathematics classroom, students can also use simulations to show real-world connections with math and science without the focus being on the experiment itself as would be the focus in a science classroom.

Key Findings

The William Dwyer case study states that although simulations ?tend to favor group interactions? individuals can also benefit from them.  However, it is very important that the students are motivated and posses metacognitive skills to be successful. 

Comparatively, teachers also need to posses motivation and the necessary skills in order for simulations to greatly benefit student learning.  As discussed in many case studies and articles we?ve read during this course, it can be difficult for teachers to change their way of teaching to incorporate such technology into their curriculum.  Teachers need to be willing to try something new.  They also need to have support from their administration, technology committee, and the software professionals.

Researchers have found that simulations are beneficial before and after formal instruction.  When used before instruction, students become ?active creators of knowledge? (Hargrove and Kenton) which allows students to be in command of what they learn and how they learn it.  Research has shown that when students are more involved in the learning cycle, they are more successful and are more motivated to learn more in depth.

Reflection

I think the use of simulations in a classroom can be greatly beneficial to student-centered learning.  Students constantly want to apply what they learn in school to the ?real? world.  Without this connection, many students lose focus and desire to learn the concepts teachers are covering in their classrooms.  With the use of simulations, teachers can make these connections for the students without trying to gather unattainable resources or disrupting the classroom.

I have searched for simulations for use in my classroom in the past and came across the website http://explorelearning.com.  This website uses ?gizmos? to show students the connections between the concepts they in class and real-world applications.  Although I found these gizmos to be useful, it is unfortunate that the cost is a little pricey.

I have since found a free pendulum simulation that I use for a project.  In groups, the students create their own pendulum and conduct two experiments to discover whether the length of the pendulum or the weight attached to pendulum affects the period.  After the students conduct their experiments and make decisions, they then use the simulation that allows them to change the length and weight to see what observations they should have made.  Some students are surprised to see that what they originally thought to be true was actually not.  Although I have the simulation, I still like the students to conduct their own experiment because it then allows them to discuss why their observations my have differed from the simulation.