Computer systems simulation in education: description of an experience

Abstract Computer Simulation will play an important role in future changes in Education. Here we will review how the Spanish National Project for Computers in Education, called Atenea, looks at Modelling and Simulation and how the first training courses for teachers, recommended by this project, are being carried out. We will give particular attention to the applications of the Simulation in the classroom using System Dynamics techniques. A real case study, developed by the pupils of a Simulation course for teachers, is outlined showing numerical and graphics results. Afterwards, SDSE—System Dynamics Simulator for Education—is superficially described: it is a microcomputer based system which has been developed by the authors to assist the process of building and simulating System Dynamics models in educative environments. Finally, some pedagogical applications, alternatives of use and major problems of the Simulation in educational environments are presented.