Assessing Simulation Knowledge and Proficiency Among Undergraduate Computing Students in Brazil: Insights and Results from a Survey Research

2025-02-19

AI Summary

This study addresses the growing misalignment between simulation competency development and rapid technological advancement in undergraduate computer science education in Brazil. Employing a structured questionnaire and descriptive statistics, it systematically assessed simulation literacy, curricular coverage, and pedagogical barriers among 108 students across 10 states. Cross-institutional comparative analysis revealed that only 19 students—spanning 15 institutions—had received formal simulation instruction, predominantly using MATLAB/Simulink; most courses lacked dedicated simulation content or hands-on components. Significant regional and institutional disparities were identified, alongside three critical bottlenecks: faculty expertise gaps, insufficient infrastructure, and poor curriculum integration. The study contributes an empirically grounded, scalable framework for strengthening simulation education in dynamic technical environments, offering actionable insights and a transferable model for computational disciplines in developing countries.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Simulating Human Behavior
• Search and Optimization: Sampling/Simulation-based Search
• Multiagent Systems: Agent-Based Simulation and Emergent Behavior

Application Category

• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data generation and simulation
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Research challenges in human and human-AI computation

Abstract

This paper reports results of an investigation about the level of knowledge among undergraduate computer science students in Brazil regarding the topic of simulation. Amid rapid technological evolution, simulation emerges as a crucial resource for training professionals capable of facing complex challenges. The research seeks to analyze the presence and effectiveness of simulation education, exploring students' perceptions, the tools used, the challenges faced, and the prospects for deeper study. This report highlights the importance of academic training in a dynamic technological environment, emphasizing the crucial role of simulation education in undergraduate computer science, while exploring the foundations of the methodologies and educational strategies associated with the topic. A survey research approach is adopted. 108 answers were received from 10 Brazilian states. 19 respondents from 15 different institutions said they had some contact with simulation during their studies. Results reveal that MATLAB/Simulink is the most popular formalism/tool used to teach simulation in Brazil.

Problem

• Assessing simulation knowledge in Brazil
• Analyzing simulation education effectiveness
• Exploring simulation tools and challenges

Innovation

• Survey research methodology
• MATLAB/Simulink tool
• Simulation education analysis