Integrating Information Technology and Science Education for the Future: A Theoretical Review on the Educational Use of Interactive Simulations

Abstract

Information technologies offer potentially powerful new environments for communicating ideas in science education. This paper critically surveys the research literature to explore ways in which secondary school teachers are using interactive simulations to enhance their students' scientific literacy and enable their students to meet science learning goals. The Australian National Curriculum for Science notes that: "Digital aids such as animations and simulations provide opportunities to test predictions that cannot be investigated through practical experiments in the classroom and may enhance students' understanding and engagement with science." Interactive simulations as 'exploratory' applications will be integrated with science education in this paper. The relationship between interactive simulation and science education will be discussed followed by introduction. And then, cognitive theory and related assumptions will be presented as theoretical 'lenses' as well as design principles which support the applications of interactive simulations in educational instructions. After critical analysis of the related studies focused on science education with information technology tools, this paper concludes with a brief discussion of future research directions in the field.