INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SIMULATION TO SUPPORT TEACHING OF BIOLOGY IN DISTANCE LEARNING

In the open and distance education environment, where teacher-student interaction is very limited, there should be more emphasis in promoting student's initiatives. Interactive computer simulation can help the student gain an understanding of a subject learnt at a distance. Students can carry out their respective assignments. It simulates procedures of laboratory work efficiently. It can also visualize a complicated and even a hard-toimagine scientific concept. The Department of Biology of Universitas Terbuka initiated an interactive computer simulation to support student learning process. The subjects are genetics, microbiology and biochemistry. The objectives of the interactive computer simulation are to better ensure student preparedness to carry out real laboratory practice. The computer simulation presents a step-by-step procedure of a simulated laboratory practice. This simulation develops student's comprehension of the procedure and its relation to the theoretical framework.