Multimedia using Simulation Models

Dr. Istvan Molnar

Department of Computer Science, Budapest University of Economics, Budapest, Hungary Department of Computer Science, Politechnic of Darmstadt Darmstadt, Germany

1. Possibilities of media applications in teaching simulation

The traditional university teaching of computer simulation today in no way differs from teaching other subjects of computer science. That statement no doubt holds true not only in Hungary. Theoretical knowledge fundamentally is obtained in the form of lectures, seminars and written technical literature, while practical knowledge can be acquired within the framework of seminars and exercises developed by using computers. As regards media employed, the dominance of written and vocal instruments can be observed, supplemented by diagrams and pictures, occasionally by animation. Although individual learning has special significance, neither the teaching material, nor the technical instruments are suitable for taking into account the differences stemming from the individual training of the students. During learning in addition to computer usage interactivity is made possible in a limited way by seminars and exercises. Reporting is done on oral or written examinations, or perhaps by using the results of computer programs done by the students.

2. Lotka-Volterra systems: a multimedia demonstration program

Subject: interactive teaching of mathematical ecology and ecological application of simulation modelling

Hardware requirement: Intel486 CPU, 8MB RAM, 120MB HD
Software requirement: mMS-WINDOWS 3.1
Duration of execution: about 35-45 minutes
Main characteristics: Students can make experiments with parameters of the model without knowing anything about the programming environment or the simulation software, and can look at the effects of the changes almost immediately. They are able to gain elementary knowledge about the process of simulation, especially about

- examination of real systems,
- building of simulation models,
- building a corresponding mathematical model,
- making experiments for parameter calibration, - examination and evaluation of the results.

The demonstration program has been developed with international cooperation (Open University Hagen ). The authoring tool, which was used, is the Multimedia Toolbook from Asymetrix Co., the simulation program was written in GPSS-FORTRAN Version 3.
That new type of multimedia teaching software should be connected to the simulation software. The interface between the authorware and the simulation software constitutes a problem. The technical possibilities for the realisation of the interface will be discussed.
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