COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SIMULATION AND EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

In the current technologically evolving world, utilization of the latest tools and techniques in imparting education has become vital. In the context of engineering technology, several experiential methods, simulation methods, tools, websites, and software have been developed of late to disseminate concepts to students in creative, interesting, and captivating ways. Electrical and mechanical concepts are often difficult for students to ascertain the science behind what is being taught in a tangible manner. Typically, learning theory has been the concentration of universities, while the implementation of theory has been relegated to students after graduating and receiving a job, where they have on-site training with equipment. The reason for this is the cost-prohibitive nature of equipment. Simulation software has allowed students to access and apply the materials in a digital world but, by definition, it lack hands-on learning. Affordable training modules are now offered by companies that provide electrical and mechanical modules, each equipped with all the necessary components to function as complete teaching aids. In this current study, conducted at the University of West Alabama, the authors undertook a comparative analysis to assess student learning outcomes across courses within the scope of engineering technology. While the results indicated that experiential learning yielded higher student performance compared to simulation-based learning, the findings were context-specific and should be interpreted as evidence of improved outcomes within the scope of this study rather than a definitive conclusion about the superiority of one method over the other.