FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

UNIVERSITI PENDIDIKAN SULTAN IDRIS

SSI3013

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SCIENCE

GROUP A

SIMULATION

ENCIK AZMI BIN IBRAHIM

NAME MATRIC NUMBER

NORAIN HANANI BINTI OMAR D20141067077

SITI MARIAM BINTI TAHAR D20141067081
NUR FARAHAIN BINTI ASHARI D20152072047

SIMULATION

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TOPIC PAGES
1.0 Introduction 3
2.0 Sample Model
3.0 Advantages and Disadvantages of 3
Simulation
4.0 Why Simulation Important 5

Learning Process 8
5.0 Simulation Future Learning
6.0 Conclusion 9
7.0 References
10

10

1.0 Introduction

2
 Technology integration has become popular in education and as teachers are
always looking for ways to effectively utilize technology tools in classrooms. At its
inception, technology in education meant bringing in computers for teachers to use
and any available software that was available. How times have changed! As
technology integration evolves in the classroom, teachers now have a wide variety of
teaching tools available to help facilitate student learning. One such tool is
simulations.

A computer simulation is a teaching tool used to provide students with a realistic

experience. It can serve as a technique for enhancing learning and increase a
students interest and awareness in the topic being discussed. Simulations provide
opportunities for learners to explore environments that mirror real-world situations or
complex ideas. Simulations also provide innovative ways to use technology. New
computer technologies allow for a variety of strategies to design learning
environments that are realistic, authentic, engaging, and fun.

Simulations work as to provide students with an opportunity to practice problem

based learning through a specific task, issue, crisis, or problem. An experience or
real-life situation is imitated. When the situation or problem is presented, students
work together to think of a possible solution and prove that it works or fits in with
certain decision criteria. Students are generally assigned roles and are expected to
act within that role or setting regarding the subject matter and issues presented.
Students carry out their roles in the simulation according to predetermined
behavioral characteristics and descriptions regarding their topic. They become the
character in the simulation and experience the reality of acting in the situation.

2.0 Sample Model

For this assignment, we use our sample for this simulation by using the Stella
Simulation in control of biological control of Biosawit (palm tree). However, this
experiment shown the relationship between the population of pest (rats) and owl
which effect in the palm-oil ecosystem.

3
 The result from the experiment by using Stella stimulation had been observe
and discussed.

Graph 1: The relationship between population of Owl and Rats

Based on the graph above, the number was set automatically by the software.
The population of owls is 8 meanwhile as for the population of rats is 15,000. In
beginning of years, both of population suddenly drop because of lack of food supply.
However, the population of rats and owls automatically increase at 11.50 years
because the palm-oil resource increase. Thus, it can maintain the population of rats
and owls. The graph shown that the relationship between owls and rats towards
palm oil ecosystem is constant and positive.

4
Graph 2: High population of rats vs low population of owl and effects on palm
ecosystem

The graph had shown the result of the high population of rats and low
population of owl whereas we can see the number of rats is 18,000 meanwhile as for
owl is 10. The relationship of the two population is not constant and equilibrium.

Graph 3: Low population of rat vs high population of owl and effects on palm
ecosystem

From the graph above shown that the population of rats decrease, and the
population of owls is increases. When the population of owl increase, it will give

5
effects the growth of rats. However, when the population of owl and rats decrease, it
will give effects to the palm-oil resources in 20.00 years. Where the population of
rats will increase and the palm oil resources decrease and the owl is not exists.

3.0 Advantages and Disadvantages of Simulation

3.1 Advantages Of Simulation

Simulation is the most frequently used operations in research techniques. It

has advantages and disadvantages. For advantages, the system is better to
understand by developing a mathematical model of a system of interest and
observing the systems operation in detail over long period of time. Besides, the
system is compress time to test the concept in real world of simulation using simple
models and putting operation into process.

Furthermore, simulation helps you to answer any misconception on facts by

reconstructing the scene and take a closer look at what happened during the
process. In addition, simulation helps to improve and new design on a system.
Moreover, simulation is a wise investment because the cost of simulation study is
less than the total amount being expanded for the implementation of a design or
redesign. Next, the advantage is allowing people to communicate how a system
works and what is the effect and the outcomes.

Then, the advantage is, it is more interesting teaching method. The simulation
might contain animation and and interesting interface. Besides, students can practice
problem solving skills. This is because simulation has scenario based problems that
reflects a situation the learner would encounter in real world.

In addition, it is able to provide users with practical feedback when designing real
world systems. Consequently, the user may explore the merits of alternative designs
without actually physically building the systems. As an example, consider the design
and fabrication of integrated circuits. It would be very costly to actually fabricate all of
the potential designs as a means of evaluating their respective performance.

6
 Moreover, it has permit system designers to study a problem at several different
levels of abstraction. Working at a higher level abstraction also facilitates rapid
prototyping in which preliminary systems are designed quickly for the purpose of
studying the feasibility and practicality of the high-level design.

Next, it can be used as an effective means for teaching or demonstrating

concepts to students. Such simulators dynamically show the behavior and
relationship of all the simulated system's components, thereby providing the user
with a meaningful understanding of the system's nature. By showing the paths taken
by signals as inputs are consumed by components and outputs are produced over
their respective fan-out, the student can actually see what is happening within the
circuit and is therefore left with a better understanding for the dynamics of the circuit.
This is particularly true when simulating circuits which contain feedback loops or
other operations which are not immediately intuitive upon an initial investigation.

3.2 Disadvantages Of Simulation

Disadvantages of simulation are, it requires special training as it is an art that is

learned over the time and through experience. To build a realistic model, it may
require domain knowledge that can only be acquired from someone who expert in
this matter. Besides, the result may be difficult to interpret because the results are in
random variables. Furthermore, it is consume more time, effort and money for
analyses the result which is not sufficient for the problem.

In addition, the disadvantage of simulation is 30 days for trial versions. Moreover,

the limited number of computers is the problem of students to learn the process
because students only use computer in the school since they do not have computer
at home. That is means the learning process only happens in the class. Next, it is
burden to teacher and students if they lack of skills. They need times to explore the
system.

Then, the results of the simulation may not be readily available after the
simulation has started. For an event that may occur instantaneously in the real world
may actually take hours to mimic in a simulated environment. Consequently, these

7
simulators are restricted by limited hardware platforms which cannot meet the
computational demands of the simulator.

Besides, it is introduce simplifying assumptions or heuristics into the simulator

engine. For example, consider a circuit simulator which makes the simplifying
assumption that a current passing through one wire does not adversely affect current
flowing in an adjacent wire. However, if the user places two wires of a circuit too
close together during the design, the circuit, when fabricated may fail to operate
correctly due to electromagnetic interference between the two wires.

Furthermore, it is employ the hierarchical approach to design and simulation so

as to permit the designer to operate at a higher level of design. By operating at too
high an abstraction level, the designer may tend to oversimplify or even omit some of
the lower level details of the system. Actual construction of the system will not be
able to occur until the user provides low level information concerning the system's
subcomponents.

In addition, the disadvantages of simulation are firstly, it is expensive to build a

simulation model. Secondly, it is expensive to conduct simulation besides sometimes
it is difficult to interpret the simulation results. Furthermore, we have a poor
understanding of how some physical systems work so that we do not have sufficient
data to produce a mathematical model. For this reason it has not been possible to
create simulations that can accurately predict the occurrence and effects of
earthquakes and tsunami.

Moreover, the formula and functions that are used may not provide an accurate
description of the system resulting in inaccurate output from the simulation. Next, the
complex simulations can require the use of a computer system with a fast processor
and large amounts of memory.

4.0 Why simulation is important for learning process

Simulation is important for learning process because, it provides an

information or demonstrative a phenomenon. This is important when the simulation
is done on the phenomenon which is difficult to run in real world for trainee. The

8
example is for a doctor, it is difficult to them to run the surgery without using the
simulator. These might be waste of money and effort for them.

Besides, it enables practice in learning. It can be applied to many different

disciplines and types of trainees. It is a technique to replace and amplify real
experiences with guided ones, often apply in nature that evoke or replicate
substantial aspects of the real world in a fully interactive fashion.

Furthermore, it examines and tests the knowledge ot give individual feedback.

Simulation shows the result after students did the experiment either they are fail or
success. Students might be learn from their mistakes. The simulation really helps
students to improve their weakness because it gives individual feedback.

5.0 Simulation Future Learning

Simulation can be used in experimentation, teaching and learning in class and

also training which it can be in-formed of games and role play. In addition, simulation
can be used in representation of system, phenomenon, entity or process of model
during learning process. Furthermore, students are able to use procedural simulation
that is typically contain simulated physical object. It is able students to conduct
experiment virtually. For instance, Bio Lab Frog simulation which are allows learners
dissect frogs and perform others experiment by using simulator.

Moreover, students can learn through continuous simulation in class. It refers

to a computer model of a physical system that continuously tracks system response
according to a set of equations. It is an extensive use of mathematical formulae. In
science, it usually use for electrical circuits and chemical modeling. So, it is
convenient for students study through simulator instead of theory. Technically,
students able to understand more on how it works and functioning.

Besides, students are able to gain knowledge through computer simulations.

It is used in a variety of practical context, such as weather forecasting, analysis of air
pollution and noise. Next, students can learn through simulation models in order to
discover pattern, rules and make predictions. Basically, simulation Model is a
mathematical business model which combines both mathematical and logical
concepts that tries to emulate a real life system through use of computer software.

9
Then, assessment of student learning can be conducted in class through simulation
in class. This student-centered space can enable learner-oriented assessment,
where the design of the task is created for active student learning. Students are
actively involved in both self and peer assessment and obtain sustainable formative
feedback.

6.0 Conclusion

STELLA is one of example for computer simulation in teaching and learning.

This simulation is suitable to apply in schools since it will empower the
understanding about the topics. Teaching and learning will become more meaningful
as it will bring different perspective I order to expand students thinking and
knowledge. Even learning and teaching through simulation has pros, and it also has
cons.

7.0 References

Zuraidy bin Adnan, Azmi bin Ibrahim, Khairul Annuar bin Abdullah, Dr. Nor Azliana
Akmal binti Jamaludin, Dr.Mohd Fahmi bin Mohamad Amran. (2015).
International Journal of Agriculture Innovation and Research. Long Term
Effects Using Biological Control in Palm-Oil Ecisystem.

UNSW Sydney. (n.d.). Retrieved April 16, 2017, from Assessing with Role Play and
Simulation: https://teaching.unsw.edu.au/assessing-role-play-and-simulation

Hertel, J.P. & Millis, B.J. (2002). Using simulations to promote learning in higher
education: An introduction. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

D., D. (2017, 2 3). concentric. Retrieved 4 16, 2017, from concentric market:
https://concentricmarket.com/blog/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-
simulation/

10