Web Based Simulation Games With Multimedia E-learning Environment.
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Abstract
Background
Nowadays, the old Comenius`s motto – “schola ludus“ (“school as a playâ€) has found its modern use in interactive educational programs using simulation games. Through the simulation game we can test the behaviour of individual physiological subsystems, both under normal conditions and in the presence of a disorder.
Objective
Our goal was to design a web teaching tool, which helps to explain the function of individual physiological systems using interactive multimedia connected with simulation model.
Methods
Development of the e-learning web simulation games requires cooperation of many professionals and combination of research and development work. Research work consists in formalizing physiological reality by designing mathematical models, while development work is the very creation of multimedia simulators, which make use of the mathematical models designed. A scenario of good quality, created by an experienced pedagogue, still remains the foundation of the e-learning program. Creation of animated images is the responsibility of artists who make interactive animations in the Flash or now in the Expression Blend environment. In order to increase efficiency of creating the graphic layer in the Expression Blend, we have developed an auxiliary software tool – Animtester, which enables the designers – graphic designers to create such animation “puppets†and debug them without the need of any further programming. Thus created “puppets†can be then connected directly to model outputs and there is no need to add any separate program inter-layer for data propagation, as would be the case if using Flash animations. The core of the simulators is the simulation model, created in the environments of special development tools designated to create simulation models. Now, we use a very efficient environment, which utilizes the Modelica simulation language. We are working on the Modelica language compiler to compile into the .NET component form, which, together with the differential equations solver implemented on the .NET platform, as well, shall serve as the “data layer†of the simulator with the implemented model. The user interface is connected with the simulation model using the Data Binding concept, which provides intelligent automatic propagation of values between the layers, thus data transfer. The resulting simulator is a web application for the Silverlight platform, which makes it possible to distribute the simulator as a web application running directly in the Internet browser.
Results
We have designed the Atlas of Physiology and Pathophysiology as a web accessible teaching tool combining interactive multimedia with simulation models (http://www.physiome.cz/atlas). We have used this tool in biomedical education in Charles University Prague.
Conclusions
Educational applications using simulation games, available through the web, represent a new educational aid, very efficient from the didactic point of view in explaining complex pathophysiological processes. However, their process of creation is not very easy – it requires multidisciplinary team cooperation and use of suitable development tools. Creative interconnection of the various professions is the key to success (see http://www.physiome.cz/atlas/info/00EN/index.htm).
Nowadays, the old Comenius`s motto – “schola ludus“ (“school as a playâ€) has found its modern use in interactive educational programs using simulation games. Through the simulation game we can test the behaviour of individual physiological subsystems, both under normal conditions and in the presence of a disorder.
Objective
Our goal was to design a web teaching tool, which helps to explain the function of individual physiological systems using interactive multimedia connected with simulation model.
Methods
Development of the e-learning web simulation games requires cooperation of many professionals and combination of research and development work. Research work consists in formalizing physiological reality by designing mathematical models, while development work is the very creation of multimedia simulators, which make use of the mathematical models designed. A scenario of good quality, created by an experienced pedagogue, still remains the foundation of the e-learning program. Creation of animated images is the responsibility of artists who make interactive animations in the Flash or now in the Expression Blend environment. In order to increase efficiency of creating the graphic layer in the Expression Blend, we have developed an auxiliary software tool – Animtester, which enables the designers – graphic designers to create such animation “puppets†and debug them without the need of any further programming. Thus created “puppets†can be then connected directly to model outputs and there is no need to add any separate program inter-layer for data propagation, as would be the case if using Flash animations. The core of the simulators is the simulation model, created in the environments of special development tools designated to create simulation models. Now, we use a very efficient environment, which utilizes the Modelica simulation language. We are working on the Modelica language compiler to compile into the .NET component form, which, together with the differential equations solver implemented on the .NET platform, as well, shall serve as the “data layer†of the simulator with the implemented model. The user interface is connected with the simulation model using the Data Binding concept, which provides intelligent automatic propagation of values between the layers, thus data transfer. The resulting simulator is a web application for the Silverlight platform, which makes it possible to distribute the simulator as a web application running directly in the Internet browser.
Results
We have designed the Atlas of Physiology and Pathophysiology as a web accessible teaching tool combining interactive multimedia with simulation models (http://www.physiome.cz/atlas). We have used this tool in biomedical education in Charles University Prague.
Conclusions
Educational applications using simulation games, available through the web, represent a new educational aid, very efficient from the didactic point of view in explaining complex pathophysiological processes. However, their process of creation is not very easy – it requires multidisciplinary team cooperation and use of suitable development tools. Creative interconnection of the various professions is the key to success (see http://www.physiome.cz/atlas/info/00EN/index.htm).
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