Simulations as Multimodal Learning

Introduction

A simulation of a system is "Real like operational model implementation". This model can be configured for various settings and experimented with. The results obtained on these simulations are very close to be found on real systems.

Simulations, specially enhanced by Virtual and Augmented reality are playing a great part in making a better understanding of complex and practical topics. It makes learning fun, immersive, and experience-based. In the area of Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), it is playing a very important role as many practical problems are too time-consuming and complex to implement and test physically. Therefore, simulation is the only option for such problems.

Simulations provide an effective interactive method for students to explore and learn about real-world phenomena. However, one must not forget that most of the simulation tools are heavily loaded against visually or hearing impaired or both.

Simulation in Engineering Education

Simulators are the life of engineering research. As a fact, no research in Communication is feasible without simulators like Glomosim, Network simulator and Adhoc MN Simulator. There is Encog a java based Neural Network and AI simulator used by many academic places to teal Machine and Deep learning. Multisim and Cadence are used for Circuit design and VLSI design respectively. This has replaced expensive laboratories to handy simulation tools, which can be accessed by students, even from home.

(Picture : https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Screenshot-of-ANN-structure-on-Encog-Workbench-screen-Source-Author_fig13_269087026 )

Case Study (Reference 4 and 5)

Here I will discuss a multimodal virtual laboratory (MVCL) for chemistry experiments as a practical implementation. The MVCL resulted in ‟ learning improvement” among students and increased student involvement in Chemistry Labs. The aim of MVCL is to provide detailed information about the physical and chemical properties of chemical items while simulating the chemistry experiments in the virtual environment. This system was very well accepted by students and faculty and has become an example for similar implementation in Physics and Electrical Engineering. It is already operational in several universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)

(Image URL: https://d3i71xaburhd42.cloudfront.net/83a2bc281166c932d5c437f178d814e3cbca8a15/5-Figure4-1.png)

Multimodal Virtual Laboratory for the Students’ Learning Enhance-

References

1. Cynthia D’Angelo, Daisy Rutstein, Christopher Harris, Geneva Haertel, Robert Bernard, and Evgueni Borokhovski. 2014. Simulations for STEM Learning: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Report Overview2. Johnston, M. (2009). Building multimodal applications with Emma. In Proceedings of the 2009 international conference on Multimodal interfaces, pp. 47–54. ACM.

3. Josephsen, K. “Simulation of laboratory assignments to support students' learning of

introductory inorganic chemistry”, Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 7(4),