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DEVICE:

Dynamic Environment for Visualization in Chemical Engineering

The goal of DEVICE (Dynamic Environment for Visualization in Chemical Engineering) is to facilitate student learning through construction of models and evaluation of the models executing as simulations. In DEVICE, students solve real world problems in a simulated environment with visualizations that help establish the realistic context. The model underlying the simulation is visible, manipulable, and represented in a form that easily connects with the students' theoretical understanding. Students construct their own models to explain the behavior of the system. With DEVICE, we hope to find a middle ground between merely viewing a simulation and building one from scratch where the students are able to actually complete and learn through modeling tasks.

We created and tested a prototype in June, 1995. The results of this test led us to believe that merely allowing students to view an underlying model was not enought to get them to trigger a modeling process. Further testing of students actual performance solving modeling problems suggests that students have difficulty determining the boundaries of the system to be modeled, as well as difficulty with dynamic quantities such as volume vs mass flow.

A new version of DEVICE was created that allowed students to create and manipulate at the model level, and supported them in deciding how to measure the system. This version focused the student activity on the critical pieces of modeling, namely the connection between the model and the real world and the interpretation of the model

The 2.0 version of DEVICE was tested in chemical engineering classrooms at Georgia Tech during Fall Quarter 1996 and again during Spring Quarter 1997. In both cases, students who used DEVICE showed a signficant performance improvement when compared to a control class.

There are no further DEVICE versions planned at this time. However, the same theoretical issues concerning model-building environments are being addressed in BOOST: Basic Object-Oriented Support Tool, Noel Rappin's dissertation research.

DEVICE Screen Shots

These screen shots are taken from the most recent version of DEVICE:

  • Layout Screen In this screen the student can edit the physcial prameters of the system, either numerically or by dragging pieces in the picture.
  • Equation Screen In this screen the student links the equation pieces to attributes of the system, chooses a specific pump to place in the system and solves the equations.
  • Variable Source ScreenIn this screen the student explicitly links the variables in the equations to the physical parameters that give them their value.

     

DEVICE Papers and presentations:

  • CHI '97 Design Briefing: This paper was presented at CHI '97. It contains a design rationale for the interface changes between DEVICE 1.0 and 2.0. It also presents the results of the user test in July 1995, and the first full classroom test in Fall, 1996..
  • CHI '97 Slide Presentation This is the slide presentation that accompanies the above paper.
  • ICLS Paper: This paper was presented at the International Conference on the Learning Sciences 1996. It describes the results of the 1.0 pilot test, as well as a discussion of the new functionality in DEVICE 2.0.
  • ICLS Slide Presentation This is the slide presentation given at the International Conference on the Learning Sciences 1996. In addition to the topics in the paper, it also discusses an evaluation of what mistakes students make when solving modeling problems. A text-only version is available.
  • AI-ED Poster Presentation: This is the poster session as it was presented at AI-ED in August 1995. It contains a description of the 1.0 version, as well as the results of our initial pilot test.
  • AI-ED Poster session submission: This submission was written in January 1995, and contains an early description of the goals of DEVICE, and the functionality of the 1.0 prototype.

     

Researchers


Questions or comments about DEVICE? Email Noel Rappin.