There has been much internet research conducted around this topic. The studies highlight the benefits of using simulation and modeling in education, therefore supporting its use in the classroom. The University of Pretoria in South Africa has performed a study revolving around “Modalities of Computer Based Teaching and Learning”.  It explains that how these resources, such as those provided by The Learning Federation, are beneficial for the following reasons:

• Motivating because students are using computers and see it as a ‘game’
• Suitable for various stages as they vary in difficulty and certain websites provide information as to what age level their resources are appropriate for
• Hands on in nature as students are participants because they must interact with the resource and their input is encouraged
• Empowering as they encourage students to take responsibility for their learning and develop problem solving skills
• Promotes discovery learning as students can use trial and error to solve problems and must interact with the content to understand the task
• Saves time and money as they are less costly than excursions and students can explore the environment safely without physically being there
• Modifies instructional time frames as time can be expanded or compressed therefore students can work at their own pace and attempt a simulation/view a model as many times as they like
• Allow the user to visualise and enter a world or time period that no longer exists as well as learn about concepts not visible to the naked eye e.g. what happens to molecules when they are heated

According to their reserach more transfer of knowledge has occured per unit of learning time with simulations than with formal instruction.

Source: http://hagar.up.ac.za/cie/med_old/modules/mio880/docs/theory/simulations.html