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Learning through collaborative computer simulations
Author(s) -
Laurillard Diana
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of educational technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.79
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1467-8535
pISSN - 0007-1013
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8535.1992.tb00327.x
Subject(s) - computer science , conceptual change , human–computer interaction , order (exchange) , conceptual framework , management science , mathematics education , psychology , epistemology , philosophy , finance , economics
The author argues that computer‐based simulations can help students to enhance their conceptual and intuitive understanding of theoretical concepts. Intuitive understanding of scientific concepts goes beyond conceptual understanding; attaining a sense of familiarity with ideas that cannot be directly experienced requires opportunities for student‐directed activities and feedback on those activities in an environment that simulates the theory concerned. Computer‐based simulations can offer these characteristics, but they still do not always achieve the intended enhancement in intuitive understanding. The author discusses evaluation studies of particular science simulations in order to draw conclusions about the design and implementation characteristics that contribute to the success of an educational simulation.