FermProc: A Pedagogical Simulation Tool for Fermentations

Simulators are valuable educational tools enabling students to gain more theoretical knowledge and conceptual understanding [1], [2] due to the manipulation of the models allowing an intuitive learning based on action and offering the student a feeling of control and enhancing explorations. However, it is common that the simulators used in engineering education are conceived for simulating rigorous designs lacking of a thoughtful learning design. Therefore, they are not primarily designed for education and are not well-equipped with tools and frameworks that can enhance the learning process. More specifically, commercial virtual laboratories and/or simulators work as black boxes so their mathematical models are not displayed and it is not possible to recognize the assumptions made [3], [4].
Furthermore, another significant issue faced by the traditional lecture and textbooks system is to find a way of making complex theoretical knowledge more approachable and to crea
learning has to be enjoyable. One way to tackle these objectives is to incorporate game-based elements into learning design [5]. Individual student engagement is one of the challenges of the current education system since, in a majority of cases, the learning was designed without considering the new habits and interests of the students [6]. In this context, the use of games or the introduction of game elements inside a computer-aided pedagogical platform may create a new learning process that corresponds better with the new needs [7].
In this work, an educational computer-aided tool for teaching a specific case study based on a target group of students is developed. This simulator is the result from the application a previously developed methodology in which it integrates the description process as well as the learning design and the introduction of game elements [8].Therefore, the simulator, FermProc, can be further expanded to other processes and learning designs. Finally, it is a brief overview of the current state of FermProc and its learning design is presented.