Web-based Training, Tutorials, and Simulations, and How All of these Can be Used to Better Engage Students

There are in fact, many who speak out agains overuse of online tutorials and simulations slowly replacing hands-on lab activity. Many believe that hands-on activity promotes a greater understanding of the workings and goal of a lab, and even the College Board has said that student may be refused advanced placement credits if their class substitutes simulated lab work for hands-on in class labs. (Roblyer, 2016, p. 90, 91)

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There are yet others that suggest that many simulations oversimplify the activities that they represent and mimic. If the model being used in the simulation is not accurate to the actual work it is to simulate, it can misrepresent the complexity of the task for students, giving them the wrong idea about how complicated the subject matter is. (Roblyer, 2016, p. 91)

 

Finally, a simulation, as is with any other activity, is only as good as the instructor. If a teacher is misusing a simulation, then the students are not going to benefit from it the way they are intended to, and in worse cases, it may result in misinformation for the class. (Roblyer, 2016, p. 91)