This article outlines issues and practices related to the philosophy of simulations and the relationship between traditional simulation techniques and computer technology. Introduces the articles in this special issue and concludes by discussing various problems related to computer simulation, modeling, design, and evaluation. (Author/BSR)

Describes commercial examples of computerized adventure games that have much to offer language learning. Features for such a program are suggested, and the means by which these programs can be modified for instructional purposes are discussed. (Author/CB)

Lists 12 simulation programs covering respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, chemoregulation of respiration, ventilation/perfusion relationships, and acid-base balance. Describes the structure of a typical program and shows how the programs are used during lecture and laboratory sessions. (JN)

The purpose of this evaluation of DEMOS, a system for decision modeling and uncertainty analysis, was to identify some generic issues of interest in the design of such information systems, obtain insights about the causes of problems in their use, and to suggest hypotheses about how to deal with them. (EM)

Describes a computer simulation of getting information for news stories by interviewing various sources that was presented at a journalism workshop on databases and software for journalism education. (HTH)

Describes a multiformat simulation game based on the theme of budgeting for food and its original development as a manual exercise for use with old age pensioners. The game's current versions, their uses, and target audiences are discussed along with how the exercise was made generally available in a do-it-yourself package. (Author/MBR)

Describes a computer program which plots electric field line plots. Includes program listing, sample diagrams produced on a BBC model B microcomputer (which could be produced on other microcomputers by modifying the program), and a discussion of the properties of field lines. (JN)

The determination of closed-loop response of processes containing dead-time is typically not covered in undergraduate process control, possibly because the solution by Laplace transforms requires the use of Pade approximation for dead-time, which makes the procedure lengthy and tedious. A computer-aided method is described which simplifies the…

Describes the use of two computer simulations in a journalism class to help teach information-gathering techniques and information evaluation. (HTH)

Proposes a programing design curriculum based on three conceptual areas: process, symbolic representation, and methods of interpretation; and describes computer games and simulations in which design skills of simple and conditional sequencing, rule or constraint specification, hypothesis testing, and modeling are employed. (Author/CMV)

Parameter recovery in the graded-response model was investigated using the MULTILOG computer program under default conditions. Results from 36 simulated data sets suggest that at least 500 examinees are needed to achieve adequate calibration under the graded model. Sample size had little influence on the true ability parameter's recovery. (SLD)

Computer simulation is an ideal framework to encourage decision making, active learning, and motivation. Appropriate software should be judged in terms of realism, relevance, complexity, interface, administrative efficiency, and use of microcomputers. (SK)

A variety of paired comparison, triple comparison, and ranking experiments are discussed as generalized linear models. All such models can be easily fit by maximum likelihood using the GLIM computer package. Examples are presented for a variety of cases using GLIM. (SLD)

Many credentialing agencies today are either administering their examinations by computer or are likely to be doing so in the coming years. Unfortunately, although several promising computer-based test designs are available, little is known about how well they function in examination settings. The goal of this study was to compare fixed-length…

Len Annetta, Marta Klesath, and Shawn Holmes describe how avatars in virtual learning environments (VLEs) can contribute to the learning experience by giving students a sense of social presence and investment in the learning community that may otherwise be difficult to access. VLEs have the potential to become the next generation of instructional…