What is a Simulation?

Simulations are interactive digital resources that allow you to go to another time, event or place without physically being there i.e. online or through a purchased CD-ROM or program.  Simulations can take place in the past, present or future and exist in realistic (e.g. The Gold Rush) or fictional contexts (e.g. Second Life). They allow the user to compress or expand time and give people the opportunity to explore an environment without any risk to their safety. 

The ‘Computer Integrated Education’ program from the University of Pretoria in South Africa conducted on a study on this topic and found that simulations are characterised by certain features:

• the presenting of a scene

• the request for the learner to react

• the learner reaction

• the changing of the computer’s response according to the learner’s action

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

Here is screenshot of a simulation taken from ‘The Learning Federation’ website where you must dig for gold in Australia.

The Gold Rush

 

What is modeling?

Modeling also refers to digital resources that are a representation of objects or phenomena that exist in the real world. Models can explain concepts that are known and agreed upon for e.g. the life cycle of an animal or how a volcano erupts. The outcome of the model cannot be changed as their purpose is to demonstrate a process or display information about a topic.

Here is an example of a model for from the ‘Houghton Mifflin Science’ website:

Model: Looking at Plants and Animals

An example for younger stages

 

What are the similarities and differences between modeling and simulation?

• Modeling is a representation of real phenomena or concepts while simulations are an imitation of real or fictitious events.
• Simulations involve a problem to be solved and students must construct knowledge and understanding for themselves, whereas in modeling the facts are presented to them.
• While both involve the individual to absorb information, simulation requires an element of role-play where the individual adopts the persona of a character  electronically while with modeling students mostly take on the role of the reader.
• Both involve an element of interaction; however with simulation the students’ actions can affect the outcome of the ‘game’ whereas in modeling students are clicking on links in a sequence to reveal information and activate animations.