IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/igg/jwltt0/v9y2014i3p18-36.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Application of an Online Interactive Simulation Tool to Teach Engineering Concepts Using 3D Spatial Structures

Author

Listed:
  • Brett D. Jones

    (School of Education, Department of Learning Sciences and Technologies, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA)

  • Mehdi Setareh

    (School of Architecture and Design, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA)

  • Nicholas F. Polys

    (Advanced Research Computing, Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA)

  • Felipe Bacim

    (Advanced Research Computing, Department of Computer Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA)

Abstract

Simulations can be powerful learning tools that allow students to explore and understand concepts in ways that are not possible in typical classroom settings. However, research is lacking as to how to use simulations most effectively in different types of learning environments. To address this need, we designed a study to examine the impact of using online interactive simulations on the learning and motivation of 109 undergraduate architecture students from two large public universities. The simulation tool allowed students to create models of spatial structures and analyze the effects of loads on structural member forces and deflections. The authors incorporated the simulations into our instructional design using an inquiry approach because it was consistent with our goals of teaching students concepts and the process of deriving the concepts. They documented that online interactive simulations delivered through inquiry-based instruction can be an effective means to help students learn and apply concepts.

Suggested Citation

  • Brett D. Jones & Mehdi Setareh & Nicholas F. Polys & Felipe Bacim, 2014. "Application of an Online Interactive Simulation Tool to Teach Engineering Concepts Using 3D Spatial Structures," International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies (IJWLTT), IGI Global, vol. 9(3), pages 18-36, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:igg:jwltt0:v:9:y:2014:i:3:p:18-36
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://services.igi-global.com/resolvedoi/resolve.aspx?doi=10.4018/ijwltt.2014070102
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:igg:jwltt0:v:9:y:2014:i:3:p:18-36. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Journal Editor (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.igi-global.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.