The Simultaneous Production Model; A Model for the Construction, Testing, Implementation and Revision of Educational Computer Simulation Environments.

This paper introduces a hardware and software independent model for producing educational computer simulation environments. The model, which is based on the results of 32 studies of educational computer simulations program production, implies that educational computer simulation environments are specified, constructed, tested, implemented, and revised by teams of experts. The main domains of expertise, within which the simulation environments are formally defined are: curriculum, didactics, system analyses, modelling, software engineering, and graphic design. Each expert specifies, develops, tests, and revises the knowledge components of his/her own domain of expertise. The experts then meet together at discussion sessions to coordinate activities and evaluate the integrated prototype. Important phenomena of the model are: dynamic specifications, the use of fast prototyping techniques, object-oriented coding techniques, and adaptability. Four production stages are described: the initial specification phase, the prototyping cycle, the field test cycle; and the implementation cycle. A table displays the knowledge structures required for the production of educational simulations and four figures illustrate various phases of the production of a simulation environment. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/ALF)