Use of object-oriented intelligent simulation tools for Web based education

This study explains the development of a Web based computer aided intelligent education tool. The tool is designed to enhance the knowledge and decision making capabilities of students studying engineering related environmental issues. The system enables freshmen engineering students to enhance critical thinking ability. The power of interactive simulation, animation, artificial intelligence and object-oriented technologies are incorporated to guide the students in the decision-making processes of real-life case studies. The system developed combines theory, experiments, and software tools and can be used in classroom situations or for self/group-learning. The use of intelligent simulation modules is aimed at introductory level environmental chemistry. The currently available three modules are environmentally safe paint preparation process, automobile pollution and fundamentals of gas laws. The teaching strategy of each section of courseware is centered around a text that introduces the fundamentals, theory and links to simulated laboratories. The text also contains hyperlinks to other text pictures, audio and video resources, and interactive models.