Explore Effective Use of Computer Simulations for Physics Education

摘要

The dual purpose of this article is to provide a synthesis of the findings related to the use of computer simulations in physics education and to present implications for teachers and researchers in science education. We try to establish a conceptual framework for the utilization of computer simulations as a tool for learning and instruction in physics education and explore effective approaches to integrate computer simulations into physics education. To achieve these goals, we first review studies pertaining to computer simulations in physics education categorized by three different learning frameworks and studies comparing the effects of different simulation environments. Our intent is to present the learning context and factors for successful use of computer simulations in past studies and to learn from the studies which did not obtain a significant result. Based on our analysis of the reviewed literature, we also propose effective approaches to integrate computer simulations in physics education, together with the discussion of implications for future research in the field.