Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 Art Group, the Organization of Educational Research and Planning, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Urban Planning, University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Educational Science, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: By utilizing the capabilities that technology provides for education, it is possible to eliminate or minimize the effects of the shortcomings of the current educational system. Computer-based educational simulators are among these technologies that have been widely used in various fields over the years. Currently, in the field of interior architecture, which is a highly demanded area in vocational training, acquiring skills for implementing interior decorations by students in this field and attracting them to the job market depends on the existence of well-equipped workshops, sufficient materials and supplies, and skilled instructors, along with practice and repetition of activities. Given the shortage of some materials, supplies, and equipment, as well as the limited experience of some instructors, using computer simulation technology as an educational complement can resolve the existing issues. For maximum effectiveness, it is essential to validate the simulator model specifically for the practical workshop courses in this field. The aim of this research is to validate the computer-based educational simulator model by examining the relationships among its components.
Methods: This study was a type of mixed-methods research conducted through an exploratory hierarchical approach in three phases, including document research and Delphi method, surveys, and correlation studies. The statistical population in the first phase included written and electronic resources in the fields of education, interior architecture education, and computer simulators, as well as specialists, professors, and experts in architecture, interior architecture, and educational technology. In the second and third phases, the statistical population consisted of instructors in the interior architecture field who taught at least one practical course in the 2020-2021 academic year at the 10th, 11th, or 12th grades. A semi-structured interview checklist and a researcher-made questionnaire were the tools used in this research, and the model evaluation was conducted using path analysis.
Findings: The findings indicated that the proposed model had good fit (RMSEA = 0.00, GFI = 0.998, CFI = 1.00, x² = 2.011, P-value = 0.570) and all direct paths in the model were significant (P < 0.05). Additionally, all indirect paths of the content realism of educational pedagogy on diverse learning opportunities and experiences through mediating variables such as interaction with students, student evaluation, activity repeatability, instructor supervision, learning environment management, and alignment with students' abilities were significant.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the presented model had sufficient validity for designing a computer-based educational simulator for practical courses in the interior architecture field. In the model, among eight variables, the realism of educational content based on pedagogy acted as an independent variable through mediating variables such as interaction with students, student evaluation, learning environment management, instructor supervision, alignment with students' abilities, and activity repeatability, influencing the creation of learning opportunities and experiences as a dependent variable. By examining the relationships among the variables in the model and their effects on each other, it could be concluded that representing workshop activities in a simulation environment and bringing learning experiences closer to what existed in reality increases the likelihood of transferring those learning experiences to real situations. In such an environment, considering the physical and mental abilities of users and adapting the facilities of the environment to their capabilities would enhance the opportunity to utilize the existing learning opportunities and experiences in the environment. Designing exercises based on educational content and various levels of students, along with their repeatability and the role of instructor supervision, would increase the effectiveness of the simulator. Moreover, in an interactive simulation environment where the learning process is managed by the student and evaluation is also one of its features, the student could experience active learning.
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© 2025The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
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