Effectiveness comparison for two methods of teaching process simulation to industrial technology students
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on student achievement (i.e., comprehension and retention of declarative knowledge) that resulted from teaching process simulation using manual methods as compared to computer-based methods, specifically ProModel 2.0. The methodology used in this study was based on a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest research design. The sample for this study consisted of 32 students enrolled in IT 442--Industrial Production for the Spring Semester 1996 at Purdue University. Students were divided into experimental and control groups according to which lab section they attended. Each group had 16 subjects. Because this sample size was small, statistical power calculations were used to verify sample size adequacy. The treatment for this study was an instructional unit on process simulation. The control treatment used manual simulation methods, the experimental treatment focused on computer-based simulation using ProModel. A pretest was administered to all students at the beginning of the study to assess whether the groups were equivalent in their prior knowledge of simulation. After both groups completed the instructional unit, a posttest was administered. All statistical analyses were carried out at the 0.10 level of significance. The t-test used to compare pretest/posttest improvement scores was statistically significant in favor of ProModel (p-value = 0.05). This result, along with additional quantitative and qualitative evidence presented in this document, lead the researcher to conclude that ProModel was a more effective teaching/learning tool than the manual method. However, this study did not definitely conclude which method was better. Such an answer depends largely on the instructor's ability to balance available resources. The main advantage of the manual method was that it required less time from both the instructor and students. The main disadvantage was that manual simulation is not widely used in industry. Simulation packages such as ProModel are common in industry. Students also acquire a valuable skill that could give them a competitive advantage upon entering the job market.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Depew, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Inservice training|Higher education
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