Computer simulation models in environmental engineering education

The traditional lecture-based teaching process has been criticized as a pas sive knowledge delivery process with much room for improvement in the teach ing-learning process. It is now recognized that one of the essential prereq uisites for improving the teaching-learning process is active and interacti ve participation of the students, both in and out of the classroom. In this paper, computer simulation models are identified as an effective teaching aid to promote active participation between student and teacher as well as among students. Using a sample simulation model, the different ways in whic h models in general can be used to encourage active and interactive partici pation are discussed. It is concluded that the use of such computer simulat ion models is appealing to students with diverse learning styles. (C) 1998 IAWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.