A builder and simulator program with interactive virtual environments for the discovery and design of logic digital circuits

This paper describes the features and applications of a computer program for building and simulating digital circuits with standard and custom integrated circuits, virtual environments and other useful and practical elements such as interactive tutorials and schematic circuits. By using virtual logic modules users can insert integrated circuits into breadboards, trace wires, change switches and check outputs in displays, almost like in a real life laboratory. Also students can use virtual environments to test circuits as if they were in the real world. Users can design digital applications with more components and reuse their designs to show additional examples and study more applications while saving time and money. This program supports several instructional methods. In inquiry-based learning students can be guided to experiment with integrated circuits and logic symbols in order to discover truth tables for basic logic functions and then search for patterns, principles, abstractions and applications. In project-based learning students can try solutions for virtual environments such as traffic light controller, water tanks, kinematics experiments and elevators, and then build solutions in the real world with more confidence. Earlier versions of this software have been used on many high schools and universities in Europe and Latin America.