STELLA SIMULATION
Introduction.
Simulation is one
of the technique that teacher can use to increase students interest toward the
topic. It is also a useful technique that can illustrate a complex and changing
situation. If teachers choose simulation as the teaching technique, they need
computer stimulation as teaching tools. Computer simulation is the discipline
of designing a model of an actual or theoretical physical system, executing the
model on a digital computer, and analyzing the execution output. The principle
of simulation is “learning by doing” which means the learner acts, the
stimulation reacts and the learner from this feedback.
Before we learn about the
system, we must first build the model and then operate the model. The model
that being build must be related and relevant to the topic and also can be
handling by teachers and students. Simulation also can be used to provide the
students with the fertile learning environment. By doing this, teachers can
trigger students interest about the topic and also they can become more active
during the class.
Simulation can be used as an activity that closely related to
student like students who role plays. Students especially students learn by
using simulating like toys. When teacher used abstract teaching tools, students
are more excited because they can see more clearly about the topic. To make students more understand the reality
and the complexity about the topic that being teach, teachers must build some
artificial object that can be use as teaching tools. Teacher can also act out
roles with students while teaching especially when explaining the complex
system like respiration for human and also excretion in human body. Computer
simulation can be use as electronic equivalent of this type of role playing and
also serves to drive synthetic environment and virtual worlds.
When planning to create the simulation there are three primary
sub-field that should be taking into consideration. The first one is model
design followed by model execution and lastly model analysis. In order to build
the simulation model, we must first design the model by create a mathematical
model which represents that physical object. The models can take many form like
functional and multimodel which the model contain multiple integrated models
each of which represents a level of granularity for the physical systems. After
that, the model that has being design will be execute the model on a computer
that needs computer program. The last sub-field that need to be complete while
create the simulation is model analysis. This last stage will go through the
model that have being create whether it practical or do not practical. Model
analysis is also need to find any mistake about the simulation model so that
when it is being used during teaching and learning process, there is no error
when the data is collected.
As being mention before,
simulation is closely related to computer and the compute also a great source
for simulation educational activities. Simulation as also known as virtual
reality, this term implies all things to all people. There is a lot of basic
material and application that available in the computer that teachers can use
as simulation. There are three ways that we can the computer for simulation
activities.
First, run a simulation program on a computer. This is very simple
but yet very effective. There are a lot of simulations inside a computer, for
example Microsoft Office Excel. This software can be use to collect data,
tabulate the data and also present the data in a form of various types of graph
and chart. Students can change the data, so that they can see the result and
also the change in pattern of the graph. By this way, students can predict the
outcome if they change some of the variables but, this software only limited to
number variables only. Second, use the simulation on the World Wide Web (WWW). There
is a lot of simulation in the internet nowadays. What a teachers need to do is
just spent some time to explore the internet to find the suitable simulation
that can be used when teaching. Do not afraid to explore the internet and try
different simulation, understand the application and then choose the simulation
that can be handled easily and also practical. The third way that we can use is
by enhance the simulation with computer. Many of the simulation that you run
can be enhanced by using computer. To add reality to the simulation, the
computer can be used to display the images and pictures. The computer can make
the pictures or images more real. Simulation or virtual reality does not have
to be complex but simple.
Some people will get confuse whether simulation is a games or not.
There is a lot of differences between simulation and games. Games create
competition but simulation not. Simulation is used to help the process of
teaching and learning in the class. Simulations also illustrate relationship
and create insights and also allow people to practice behaviours. Since
simulation do not create any competition it will make the users practise the
positive behaviour like patient. Games only focus on the attention on extrinsic
motivation (gamification) but simulation focus attention on intrinsic
motivation. Extrinsic motivation is the motivation that come from outside of an
individual, rewards like money or grades and these reward provide satisfaction
that the game or task itself may not provide. Intrinsic motivation is the
motivation that comes from inside of the individual like the pleasure one get
from the task itself or the sense of satisfaction when completing the task or
work.
As a teacher, we need to make sure that the students learn
something from the simulation. For the students learn something from the
simulation, teacher must do the discussion during the simulation or after the
simulation and teacher can do both session. This is very important as an
integral to the student’s learning. There are here phases that can be use to
make sure that this simulation can be done smoothly during the class. The
phases are orientation, the simulation and debrief.
For the first phase which is orientation, teacher will give
briefing and explanation to the students about what the simulations are about
and for. Teacher must fully describe the simulation so that students can fully
understand the concepts of the simulation. Other than that, teacher also has to
ensure the students completely understand the purpose of the simulation. If the
simulation needs rule or any safety precaution, make sure to outline it for the
students. Write the rules or the safety precaution on the board so that the
students can apply it during the do the simulation.
The second phase is the simulation, where the students will do the
simulation. Teacher will monitor the students to make sure that they can work
properly with the simulation and also can cooperate well with the other
students. Guide the students during this session so that the students can get
familiar with the simulation and also try to relate the simulation with the
topic that students should learn that day. Simulation can also give other
benefits to students for example good moral values. Every time in the class,
teacher must include moral values.
The last phase that should be taken when using simulation is debrief.
In the end of the simulation, there is always part discussion. At this part
student will do their reflection on what they have learn when using the
simulation. There is much different method or strategy that can be done by
teacher when doing debrief. One of the ways is, by group the students into
small group of 5 or 4 students. Then, each group will be given one learning
objective for the simulation. The group will discuss about the learning
objectives and also the teacher will give another question about what the
students think about the simulation. Each group then will present to the class.
Comment from the students then can be use to make improvement for the
simulation.
Result:
Graph
1:
Graph 2:
Graph 3:
Graph 4:
Discussion:
In an ecosystem, there is always an interaction between organisms.
That is the nature of this world. Some people might think that it is cruel to
kill other organism but, if some animal do not kill other animal, they will not
survive. There are a lot of interaction between organism in this earth like
mutualism, parasitism and prey-predator interaction. In this graph, we will
discuss more about the interaction between prey and predator.
A predator is the
organism that eats another organism while prey is the organism that predator
eats. All four graphs above show the interaction between predators (lynx) and
prey (hares). Lynx is the type of wild cat. Hares may be looks like rabbit but
they are not from rabbit family. Hares have 48 chromosomes while rabbit only 44
chromosomes. As being mention before, the interaction between lynx and hares is
prey predator. We will see the pattern of the interaction in the graph above.
For graph 1, it
shows that the number of lynx and hares is stable throughout the years. This
means that there is no environmental complexility in the ecosystem. The number
of lynx is balance with the number of hare. The birth rate of hares can afford
the needed from lynx. That is why from the graph we can see that the
interaction between the predator and prey is constant throughout the year.
There is no increasing or decreasing number for both predator and prey.
For graph 2, it
shows that the size of 1 time lynx harvest is increasing as the number of hares
increase. At the beginning of the graph, the lynx is drop a little bit as the
hares constant. This is because when the number of hares becomes constant for
such a long time, the number of lynx will decrease because there is no food for
them. If the food source decreases, the competition between predators will
become tight. There is no increasing in food source so the predator will die
thus the shows the decreasing in number. The following pattern shows that the
increasing of food source for predator (lynx) which is prey (hares) will
simultaneously increase the number of predator.
For graph 3, compared to graph 2 the number of both prey
(hares) and predator (predator) is slightly increase. The concept is still same
as is mention at graph 2. Graph 4 also shows the same pattern with tremendously
increasing number of both lynx and hares. This shows that the lynx have enough
food supply from the increasing number of hare.
The conclusion
that we can make from the relation between prey and predator is when the prey
is numerous their predators increase in numbers this then will reducing the
prey population which then make the number of predator to decreases. After
sometimes, the relation is expected to recover and starting a new cycle.
According to the recent research, the predator and prey systems are potentially
unstable because predators often extinguish their prey and then starve. In
nature, there is at least three factors that can promote stability and
coexistence.
All of the graph shows above is one of the example of simulation.
From the graph itself we can see that by using the simulation the learning and
teaching process will become more interesting and effective. There is a lot of
benefits that teacher can get by using simulation as one of their teaching
tools. Simulations are low cost to create than the real life counterparts.
Simulation is also easy to use and less risky. Other than that simulation can
be repeated over and over again whereas real life cannot.
To the students, using the simulation can give them motivation.
This motivation will develop when using the simulation. The motivation that
students will get is they will highly anticipate learning more about the topic.
The most important things when using teaching tools, teacher must choose the
one that can increase student interest and simulation is one of the best
choices. When students involve in the activity they will be interested to learn
more about the activity and also the subject or topic.
Simulations are “hands-on” that involve students. Students will
become participants not just a listener or observers. Students observe and
learn more from their own experiences than having other’s experience related to
them. They will experience on how to do their own experiment that related to
the topic. Since simulation is “hands-on”, students will explore the topic by
playing with the simulation. By doing this, students can relate the topic with
the simulation and see clearly the concept behind the topic. Simulation
stimulate an activity that is “real” ,this means that simulation are “virtually
real”. The purpose why simulation is being create is because they stimulate
activity that are similar with the real situation and environment. From this
creation, students can learn the real experience.
Simulation is tailored to the students. Simulation is designed
specifically for students the user and they take development improvement into
consideration. This means that, when simulation is developed, the students will
be the user and from time to time there is always be an improvement that can be
made. This is the advantage of simulation where we can improve the model from
time to time. This improvement will produce better simulation model that can be
use by students and teacher. The developing of simulation also considered
students development level. Slow students will use simple simulation while high
develop students will use more complex simulation but yet easy to handle. This is
not a bias to anyone but, simulation that being use must suit with the
development level of the students. Suitable simulation is very important to
make sure that students can learn something from the simulation.
Using simulation will increase student’s interest to learn more
about the topic. Since students will experience their own experiments, they
will find that the topic that being taught is really interesting. Students are
more excited when being introduce to something new. When teacher first
introduce simulation in the class, students at first will feel burden because
they are not familiar with the concept and functional of simulation. After
sometimes and a lot of practices, students will get familiar with the
simulation and thus become more excited to learn. Simulation is also
empowering. This is because, students are given a chance to be responsible,
find ways to succeed and also they will develop problem solving tools as a
result of the interaction with the simulation.
Simulation can encourage student to do more prediction like what
scientist always do. Simulation model will have parameter that can be change
and adjust by users. This application allow user to predict what will happen if
they change some parameter. Students that use this simulation can predict what
will happen to the experiment or task that they are doing if they change the
parameter. Students can also add other adjustable parameter. The try and error
method will help students to understand more about the topic. In the real
situation, it is impossible to change any parameter and also see the result
immediately. Just like in the example above, the prey-predator interaction. It
is impossible to see the interaction pattern of predator (lynx) when we
decrease or increase the number of prey (hares) because in the real situation
it takes many years to see the pattern. By using simulation, students can
predict on the pattern outcome when we increase or decrease the number of hare
and see the pattern result for both prey and hares immediately.
In conclusion, the traditional method of teaching should change
because students nowadays are totally different from 20 years ago. Simulation
is one of the new teaching method that teacher can use nowadays. Teacher role
nowadays also different from before, they are not only give knowledge to
students but also guide them. Simulations give new dimension to the learning
experience and develop the teacher’s role even further. Students also will
experience new method of learning.
Reference:
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