A New Paradigm for Virtual Scientific Experiment

In this work we present an e-learning implementation of a new process for acquiring knowledge based on inductive experimental approach. The process uses an especially didactical methodology to present a Virtual Scientific Experiment (VSE) to the learner. The VSE is a computer simulation, based on a mathematical model, which represents the real scientific scene like pendulum motion, chute etc. The VSE approach suggests a didactical situation where the learner gradually acquire new knowledge thanks to some discovers in the scene. This is made without the knowledge of the theoretical models, which are connected with the experiment in the scene. From a technological point of view the e–learning implementation is based on IWT (Intelligent Web Teacher). IWT is an e-learning platform that guarantees the flexibility of its modalities of representation and management of the main entities involved in the e-learning process through the adoption of three different models: the knowledge model, the student’s model, and the didactic model. IWT realizes a paradigm based on a pattern adapter, which allows the use of a large range of possible categories of Learning Object (LO) with previous installation of a suitable module named Driver. The Driver manages its creation, delivery and possible feedback in a transparent way, both for the user and the other modules running on the platform. To build the new didactical methodology we created new drivers to integrate in IWT all the instrument to build, to simulate and to visualize the mathematical models of real VSE. So the teacher can use in IWT Dymola and Simulnik to build mathematical model Learning Object and realize the virtual experiments.