Easy Java Simulations, Ejs, is a free and open source tool for creating Java simulations. Unlike other software programs designed to make programming easier for programmers, the structure of the Ejs environment allows users to focus on the process of building simulations, and therefore the underlying physics, as opposed to the technical aspects of building simulations. In this workshop participants will learn how to use Ejs to create simple and advanced simulations for mechanics. We will distribute on a CD the Ejs programming environment and several completed curricular units. The workshop will be based on templates that can be easily adapted to simulate other, more advanced, physical phenomena. This workshop is intended for programmers and nonprogrammers alike. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops with a CD drive and that the latest version of Java is installed.
This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation (DUE-0442581).
The premise of Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling is that when students are not actively involved in modeling they lose out on much of what can be learned from computer simulations. Although the modeling method can be used without computers, the use of computers allows students to study problems that are difficult and time consuming, to visualize their results, and to communicate their results with others. Ejs is a free open-source Java application that simplifies the modeling process by breaking it into activities: (1) documentation, (2) modeling, and (3) interface design. The Ejs program and examples of models will be available on CD. Ejs models, documentation, and sample curricular material can also be downloaded from Open Source Physics and Easy Java Simulations websites:
http://www.opensourcephysics.org
Partial funding for this work was obtained through NSF grant DUE-0442581.
The tutorial shows how to use the Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) modeling and authoring tool to create dynamical simulations of physical phenomena for teaching. These simulations can be used for computer demonstrations or virtual laboratories, or serve as programming examples and tasks for computational physics. Simulations created with Ejs are ready to be distributed on a CD or published on a Web page as Java applets.
This tutorial is intended for programmers and nonprogrammers alike. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops as they will receive a CD with documentation and step-by-step examples of simulations of several levels of difficulty. Paper documentation will also be provided. Additional information, including a Web-based forum that provides examples and facilities for exchanging simulation and pedagogical experiences related is available on the Ejs website: http://www.um.es/fem/Ejs/.
This workshop is supported by the National Science Foundation (DUE-0442581).