Abstract:

To be effective, simulation-based laboratories need to be realistic when used as a replacement of traditional laboratories. Most simulation laboratories are currently designed using ideal cases and hypothetical-deductive logic, which limits engineering education in terms of retarding the ability to conduct authentic scientific inquiry of common and advanced engineering problems. It is well known that when conducting an experiment the relationship between a hypothesis and evidence is holistic as opposed to deductive. The purpose of this work is to explore the design and building of a simulation laboratory which uses the holistic mode of inquiry. A simulation-based laboratory is developed to represent heat transfer though different geometries with the inclusion of fixed, random, and variable but deterministic errors, and, with the overall aim of letting students learn effectively. The ability to simulate the calibration of thermocouples is also included in the laboratory.

Keywords:

Heat transfer, holistic, simulation, experiment.