Computers in teaching science: To simulate or not to simulate?

Do computer simulations help students learn science? How can we tell? Are t here negative implications of using simulations to teach students about rea l world phenomena? In this paper I describe my experience using a computer simulation on air resistance. In order to parse out the effects of using th e computer simulation and of having an interactive learning environment, I compete two classes which both had interactive learning environments. One c lass used the simulation and the other class used only a set of paper and p encil activities. In the two different learning environments, there appears to be differences in how students approached learning. However, student pe rformance: on a common exam question on air resistance was not significantl y different. (C) 2000 American Associations of Physics Teachers.