A Survey of Agent-Based Modelling and Simulation Tools for Educational Purpose

Abstract

Simulation is an experimentation with the imitation or model of the observed system, and observation of its behaviour over time, with the purpose of better understanding and/or improving the system. It is often used in situations where research cannot include the real system because of its inaccessibility, dangerous or unacceptable involvement, the fact that the system is designed but not built yet, in situations where the system is abstract or simply does not exist. Elements of these systems can be implemented as software entities which can percept their environment and autonomously react to the stimulation, i.e. intelligent agents. These tools, which allow the research of complex natural, social and technical phenomena and systems, are called agent-based modelling and simulation tools. This paper presents a review of some of these modern computer tools that can be successfully implemented in the teaching process.

Keywords

• agent-based modelling and simulation
• education
• intelligent agents