I am involved in a project to develop online software which simulates scientific instruments (such as absorption spectrometers) and experiments for science students. Students can work their way through these online exercises producing data from the simulator, analysing that data and compiling a laboratory report on their findings from anywhere that has an internet connection. I would be interested to know how colleagues feel about the following:
Will this help to promote self/independent study amongst the student population?
Will this also ease pressure on staff time and timetabling whilst maintaining contact/formal study hours for the purpose of attaining credits?
Will such products be beneficial for distance learning, exchange and part time students?
Delighted to receive any other comments/views.
Dear\ Linda Swanson
pls read this article :-
- http://openscience.org/
- http://www.csun.edu/science/software/simulations/simulations.html
- https://www.weareteachers.com/10-interactive-science-simulations-2/
good luck
Thanks! All very useful but we are proposing a bit more: full online lab classes where students acquire data from the simulator then write & submit a report to their supervisor
Yes. This will greatly help. Both for distance learning and even in regular classrooms to experiment using simulation. This will also reduce the cost of buying equipment. The challenge is to create a good software which provides more realistic experience. I once used a software that simulated multimeter. I was hoping my students will learn how to use a multimeter using the simulation software but it was a disaster. It had a very poor user interface and lot of bugs.
MATLAB and Proteus are the software that I've been use for electric circuit simulation. Very useful for the project development. the circuit can be tested the functionality by simulation right before you actually build them. In the software, they provide tools like voltmeter, ammeter as probe to get the reading of voltage or the current value. This simulator kind of software can secure the possibility of the successful outcome and provide data from the simulation result. However, it will takes time to understand the software features. Despite that, we students here can eventually learn the features by ourselves.
Thanks for sharing your experiences as a student with an electric circuit simulation. It sounds like a very good self learning and problem solving exercise which can only be a good thing.
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