Curriculum Simulations

This manual is designed to show students how to use the PSpice circuit simulation program from Oread with the schematic capture front end, Capture. It is a collection of examples that show students how to create a circuit, how to run the different analyses, and how to obtain the results from those analyses. This manual does not attempt to teach students circuit theory or electronics that task is left for the main text. Instead, the manual takes the approach of showing students how to simulate many circuits found throughout the engineering curriculum. An example is the DC circuit shown below. 

Exploiting the principles of statistical mechanics, atomistic simulations allow for the calculation of macroscopically measurable properties from microscopic interactions. Structural quantities (such as intra- and intermolecular distances) as well as thermodynamic quantities (such as heat capacities) can be obtained. If the statistical sampling is carried out using the technique of molecular dynamics, then dynamic quantities (such as transport coefficients) can be calculated. Since electronic properties are beyond the scope of the method, the atomistic simulation approach is primarily applicable to the thermodynamics half of the standard physical chemistry curriculum. 

Applicable to topics from the thermodynamics part of the standard curriculum, atomistic simulations allow students to learn physical chemistry with the aid of a laboratory-like tool. The fact that such simulations are not sanitized so as to remove the inherent ambiguity and complexity of real experiments is a major advantage, rather than disadvantage. From a pedagogical standpoint, imperfect data are not a nuisance, but in fact desirable. 

P. Cummings, Biocbem. Educ. 25, 39-40 (1997). Simulated Western Blot for the Science Curriculum. ... 

R.D.K. acknowledges the National Science Foundation for a grant to assist with the introduction of computational chemistry into the curriculum (NSF-9150419). He also thanks H. R. Fynewever for technical assistance with the manuscript, and T. J. Hollebeek for providing the material on the stochastic simulation method. J. D. M. wishes to thank A. Madura for technical assistance. The authors thank T. Slee for his helpful comments. 

Lewin, D.R., W.D. Seider, J.D. Seader, E. Dassau, J. Golbert, D. Goldberg, M.J. Fucci, and R.B. Nathanson, Using Process Simulators in Chemical Engineering A Multimedia Guide for the Core Curriculum, Version 2.0, John Wiley Sons, New York (2003). 

Keywords Boxer, collaboration, collaborative science, constructionism, constructivism, constructivist curriculum, constructivist educational strategies, creativity, databases, factual knowledge, graphs, kinematics, MBL tools, microcomputer-based laboratory, microcomputer-based labs, microworlds, modelling, physics, probe, science education, science misconceptions, science teaching, seismology, sensor, simulation, spreadsheets, STELLA, telecommunications, TERC, transducers... 

Enhancements in the educational curriculum are still needed at many institutions. Updates should include active and reflective learning, hands-on exercises, simulation exercises, and more courses addressing creativity and innovation. 

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