New results from Using a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM) in a General Education Physical Geography Course

Abstract

Luo et al. (2005) reported that careful design of the questions is very important to accurate assessment of the effectiveness of dynamic simulation and visualization on student learning. We followed the lessons learned in that study and improved some of the poorly designed pre-and post-test questions used for assessing the effectiveness of a Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model (WILSIM). We tested the new questions in a large section of the same general education physical geography course in the springs of 2006 and 2007 before and after students used WILSIM to simulate 3 different scenarios of landform evolution. We found that the post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores, whereas previous study showed no statistically significant differences.