Pre-service teachers’ views on simulations in education: An interdisciplinary instructional development experience

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine pre-service teachers' views about the process of designing and developing simulations, and contribution of the methodology on their educational experience in an interdisciplinary group work. The sample included 15 Science Education (SE) and 23 Computer Education and Instructional Technology (CEIT) students of 2013 in the 5-weeks summer school. The students were required to design undergraduate level, chemistry-based simulations in a computer simulation environment in interdisciplinary teams. Qualitative data were collected by having participants respond in writing to open-ended questions. Results showed that students not only were satisfied about studying with students from the other department, but also about designing simulations in an interdisciplinary teamwork environment, as they found it an effective instructional method.