Simulation Anatomy
About This MicroSim
Examine the five essential regions of a well-designed educational simulation.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the essential components of a simulation interface
- Understand the purpose of each region
- Apply layout principles when designing simulations
How to Use
- Hover Over Regions: See descriptions in the callout panel
- Click to Lock: Keep a region selected while reading details
- Use Bottom Buttons: Quick-select any region
- Review Legend: See all regions at a glance
Five Essential Regions
| Region | Purpose | Screen % |
|---|---|---|
| Visualization | Main action area | 60-70% |
| Control Panel | User input | 15-20% |
| Information | Output display | 10-15% |
| Title/Context | Identification | 5% |
| Help | Guidance | Accessible |
Lesson Plan
Grade Level: Undergraduate Duration: 15-20 minutes Bloom's Level: Analyze (L4)
Activities
- Exploration (5 min): Identify all five regions
- Analysis (10 min): Examine a real simulation and map its regions
- Design (5 min): Sketch region allocation for a new simulation
Assessment
Students demonstrate mastery by:
- Explaining the purpose of each region
- Critiquing existing simulations using this framework
- Allocating appropriate screen percentages