|
Description:
|
Past educational studies reveal that students have difficulty making the connection between the mathematical and analytical models used to describe building
behavior and the behavior itself . This thesis examines the development and use of
visual simulation software as a tool to help students create connections between abstract mathematical models and the real world . A framework for the software was
designed and implemented , enabling students to interactively construct , analyze , and
evaluate models within a single environment . The software was tested by students in
an undergraduate dynamics course to assess its effectiveness as a learning tool . Results are presented through scenarios that demonstrate the extensibility and
flexibility
of the framework and an analysis of student responses from the Student Assessment
of Learning Gains instrument . |