Re: [Phys-l] the role of simulation

["John M Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

How do you account for the fact that students trained on simulated 
circuits using the same lab were able to wire up a circuit faster than 
students trained on the actual equipment?  The simulation students did 
not use real equipment before the practicom.

Read the research.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> Simulation works best for maintaining or enhancing proficiency 
> *after* a fair degree of proficiency has been attained ... for
> the simple reason that it takes a somewhat sophisticated user
> to know what parts of the simulation are apt and which are not.
>
> Simulation never works by itself;  it must be used in conjunction
> with theoretical analysis and old-fashioned real experimentation.