1.

0 Introduction

In order to deliver a lesson to the student process of teaching and learning must be in effective
ways. One of the way to create an effective teaching and learning environment is by two ways
communication between teachers and students. Communication between teachers and
students can make the learning environment become active. This environment can help the
students to increase their interest in study. Other ways to create effective teaching and
learning process is teacher must diversify the teaching methods. This way can avoid students
become bored during the lesson especially lesson in the classroom. Nowadays, there are
many technology was created. Teachers can use model and simulation in order to diversify
their teaching method. According Anu Maria (n.d), model is known as representation of the
construction and working of some system of interest. The purpose of a model is help human
to predict the effect of changes to the system. According to Anu Maria (n.d), a model should
be a close approximation to the real system and incorporate most of its salient features.

On the other hand, it should not be so complex that it is impossible to understand and
experiment with it. While simulation is the operation of a model and mathematical model. The
model of mathematical is classified into deterministic or stochastic; static or dynamic.
Simulation is classified as stochastic and dynamic (Anu Maria, n.d). Stochastic is input/output
variables is probabilistic, at least one while dynamic means time-varying interactions among
variables are taken into account. Simulation involve in scientific understanding, system
development in technology, system management and development planning. The purpose of
simulation is to help people examine the thing that is too impractical to perform on the system
such as kerb cycle process impossible on real system or too expensive. In addition, there are
many application of simulation. It can be used in designing and analysing manufacturing
systems. Besides, it also benefits on evaluating a new military weapons system or tactics. As
we know, the military weapons must be renewed in order to protect the nation. So, the military
can use simulation to create the new weapon. Not only for weapon creation, it also can be
used in order to determine ordering policies for an inventory system and designing the system
of communications and message protocols. Furthermore, it can be used to design and
operating transportation facilities especially subway and airports. Other than that, it can be
used to evaluate designs for organizations that provides services such as hospitals. Not only
that, simulation also used in economic in order to analyse financial or economic system.

Stella software is the example of the simulation. STELLA refers to the System for
Education and Research. As explained before, Stella is a software that provide hand-on or
experiment simulation and a modelling software from ISEE system. This software help
learners especially visual learners discover relationships between variables that want to be

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observed. This is because Stella software contains animation and also completes the diagram
and chart. In addition, the software helps to simplify model building. The model of Stella is
made up of four building blocks which is stock, flow, connector and converter. Figure 1 below
show the building blocks of Stella model.

Figure 1

Stock is a basic building block. It is used to represent anything that accumulates such as
populations and water. These are physical, countable and tangible accumulation. The stock
also can be representing non-physical accumulation such as fear and happiness. Non-
physical accumulation featured in degree state. Next building block is flow. It is used to
represent the activities that lead to inputs and outputs to stocks. The activities change the
stock magnitude in the system.

Besides, the third building block is connector. The function of connector is to transmit
the information to regulate flows. Connector is connecting into flow converter. But, it never
connects into stock. This is because of only flow can give effect to the magnitude of stocks.
Convertor is the last building block in Stella model. It contains an equation that can generate
an output value during each time interval of a simulation. Furthermore, it can take in
information and transform it for use by another variable in the model. Convertor is also helpful
for storing constant values. So, teachers can use Stella software because the graphical
content in the software can help the students to analyse complex system such as social,
chemical, biological and physical system. This software also good in order to create two way
communications during the teaching and learning process.

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2.0 Background of Stella

As explained before, Stella software contains many graphics such as animation. The
software provides virtual hands-on activities that can be run anytime by using the computer.
Now, in order to create Smart Schools concept to all schools in Malaysia, every school are
provided with computers. So, this facility provides opportunity to the teachers to diversify their
teaching and learning techniques. Teachers, especially Science teachers are recommended
to use Stella software in order to make their students more understand about Science. In
subject of Science, there includes phenomenon, cycles and processes. So, this simulation
software is very suitable to be used during the lesson of Science in order to describe the how
real process, cycle and phenomenon happen. The example of virtual experiment that available
in the Stella software is Biological Control in Oil Palm Plantation. This topic is related to
Science. Figure 2 below show the home page of Stella.

Figure 2

It contains button of abstract (ABSTRAK), run of experiment (JALANKAN UJIKAJI), view of

experimental table (PAPARAN JADUAL UJIKAJI), model (PERGI KE MODEL) and exit
(KELUAR). Before students run the experiment, they need to know the information that related
to the experiment. They can click at ABSTRAK button. At the section, there are explanation
that related to the experiment that will be run. If the students did not read the abstract, they
will not clear about the experiment. For simulation of Biological Control in Oil Palm Plantation,
simple explanation is provided below:

One of the largest agricultural export in Malaysia is palm oil. The

presence of rat in the plantation give negative impact to the production
of palm oil. This study focus on the use of biological control methods
which is owls to ensure that population of rat in plantation is in minimum
level. Simulation in this study is created to help observer find and
understand the relationship between oil palm and rat, and also the
relationship between rat and owl.

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Figure 3 below shows the abstract section.

Figure 3

Students also can go to the model section to see the model of the experiment in the Stella
software. Figure 4 show the model of experiment of Biological Control in Oil Palm Plantation.

Figure 4

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After understand the abstract, students can click button Rumah (Home). Then, click button
JALANKAN UJIKAJI to run the experiment. As mentioned in the abstract, the objective of the
experiment is to find the relationship between oil palm and rat, and between owl and rat. In
order to run the simulation, the simple procedures below must be followed:

1. Adjust the knob.

2. Click the button of Larian ujikaji.
3. To pause or stop, click the Hentikan ujikaji button.

Graph

Home button
Knob

Run experiment button Figure 5

Stop or pause button

Stella software not only provides the graph, it also provides the table to help the students to
analyse their graph. Figure 6 below shows the table that containing the data of experiment.

Figure 6

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3.0 Discussion of experiment

Normal condition

Graph 1

The experiment was started without changing any value of both parameters. This is
because we want to know the shape of graph for the normal condition. The first knob
represents the variable of population of rat, whereas the second knob represents as population
of owl. The value of population of rat according to the parameter provided is 13,000, whereas
for owl population is 10. After we run the experiment by clicking to the Larian ujikaji button,
there are three different colours of lines present on the graph which is blue, purple and red.
The blue line represents as number of population of owl, whereas the purple line represents
as number of population of rat. In addition, the red line indicates the number of oil palm source.
Based on the Graph 1 above, we can observe that the red line shows the positive exponential
graph, whereas the blue and purple line increase and decrease randomly. We can see that
when blue line goes up, the purple line will go down and vice versa. As a result, we can predict
the relationship between owl and rat. When the population of owl increase, the population of
rat will be decrease. We also can conclude that when source of oil palm increase, the
population of rat will be increase too.

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 Graph 2

Next, we change the parameter for the first variable; population of rat from 13,000 to
31,000. The parameter for owl population remain the same. Based on the graph, we can
observe that the red line increase exponentially through the years. But, the blue and purple
line increase and decrease randomly. As we set the parameter, we can see that on y-intercept,
the purple line is above the blue line. Through the graph, we also can see that when purple
line ascending, the blue line will be descending and vice versa. Based on the analyzation of
graph line, we can determine the relationship between rat and owl, which is when the
population of owl increase, the population of rat will be decrease and vice versa. For example,
on the 12th year, the population of rat is very higher, which is around 43,348.25. Rat population
increase because owl do not eat them. As we can see, the population of owl at that time is in
lower level. In the food chain, rat is the food source of owl. Based on the graph, we also can
make a prediction or assumption. For example, when the rat population is in higher level, the
population of owl will increase slowly. This is due to the food source for owl. When owl eat the
rat, the rat population will be decrease slowly. We also can see that the population of owl
decrease drastically when the rat population is lower because the owl lack of food source. So,
they will find other place that rich of food. We compare the second graph with the graph of
normal condition. We can observe that the red line remains same with that graph, whereas
the blue and red line is slightly different due to the change of parameter, but still in the same
shape with the graph of normal condition.

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 Graph 3

Then, we change the parameter for the second variable; population of owl from 10 to
seven. In this case, the parameter of rat is set to normal condition back. The red line still
increase exponentially. We compare Graph 3 with the normal condition graph. The shape of
graph is different. But, at y-intercept, we notice that number of owl population is higher than
the rat population. The owl population increase and decrease drastically when the population
of rat is in lower level. When the population of owl is in lower level, the population of rat will be
increase exponentially. This part concept is same with the previous part. The relationship of
owl and rat is inverse. The population of rat decrease due to the increase of owl population.

Based on the simulation, we can conclude that owl is the best control that can be used
at oil palm plantation in order to control the population of rat. This is because, based on all of
graph, we can observe that the population of rat will be decrease due to the presence of owl.
Furthermore, we can determine the relationship of all three variables. The population of rat
will be increase when the source of oil palm increase, but it will be decrease due to the
increasing of population of owl at the plantation. This is because owl eat the rat.

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4.0 Contribution of Stella simulation

One of the contribution of Stella software in education is deep learning. Students

become more understand about things that they learn especially lesson that involve process
and cycle such as Kreb cycle, phenomenon; photosynthesis, acid rains, air pollutions and
others. This is because, by using the Stella software, the process, cycle and phenomenon are
present in graphics. Students can see the process, cycle and phenomenon happens. If
students learn from books, some of them cannot imagine how the process, cycle or
phenomenon occurs. Besides, students can relate the related information or variable that
involve in the process, cycle or phenomenon.

Besides, students will determine or know the relationship between the variables
involve in this experiment. The Stella software allows students to find out what would happen
if the parameter is changed. This will increase their curiosity. For example, students
investigate what happens in the production of palm oil if the number of owls and rats changed.
From this research, students will be able to identify the number of owls and rats that affect the
production of palm oil. If the number of owls is higher than the number of rat, the production
of palm oil will be increase and vice versa. Through these, students are able to identify that
the production of palm oil directly proportional to the population of owls, but inversely
proportional to the population of rats.

Furthermore, by using Stella, students can identify the data of experiments, theory of
probability and sampling of variables. Afterwards, students are able to analyse the data
statistically based on the table of data provided. Through these, students can build a
hypothesis of this experiment. As described before, the production of palm oil directly
proportional to the population of owls, but inversely proportional to the population of rats. By
using that hypothesis, students can also predict what will happen in the future on the
production of palm oil if the number of rats is higher than the owl. At the same time, it also
helps students to understand the scientific knowledge about this experiment.

Next, Stella software also contributed better relationships between teachers and
students. This is because, when learning sessions using Stella software, it requires a
communication or a conversation between teachers and students. Stella software is the rarely
technology that is used in the education, so most of the students do not know the function and
objective of Stella software. Therefore, students will actively ask the teacher about Stella
software and at the same time students will understand the function and objective of Stella. In
addition, the simulation classroom learning sessions will not be too passive with active attitude.
There will be a lot of questions to ask with more details to teachers. Therefore, teachers should

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use simulation in order to make learning session becomes active and ready for student
questions.

Meanwhile, Stella software also helps students to think critically and creatively. This is
because, Stella will provide accurate predictions in each of the experiments. Therefore,
students will apply the knowledge of simulation in real life. For example, if the production of
palm oil is declining, this means the number of rats has increased. So, students will think to
solve this problem so that the palm oil production can be increased again. This indicates that
the student has solved the problem by using a new situation. Besides that, Stella software
also simplifies for students to solve the problems. For example, students do not need to go to
the palm area to take data. At the same time, it saves the transportation costs and save the
time because they will be anticipated to use the Stella software without having to go visit the
area.

5.0 Conclusion

The conclusion is Stella software is one of the software that provides hands-on
activities or experiment. It is very suitable to use in education. Teachers can use Stella
software in their teaching and learning processes in order to diversify their teaching
techniques. In addition, the software can improve the understanding of students on the
subject, especially Science subject. This is because, there are a lot of simulation of experiment
in the software. Stella also can create two ways communication between teachers and
students. On the other hand, it can increase the curiosity of students. This is because, the
parameter of variables can be changed. When run the experiment, students will always think
the effects or result if the parameter is changed. So, they will try to find the answers to their
questions and curiosity. So, Stella software give a lot of contribution especially in education.

6.0 Reference

Anu Maria. (n.d). Introduction to modeling and simulation. Retrieved on 15th April 2017 from
http://imap.acqnotes.com/Attachments/White%20Paper%20Introduction%20to%20
Modeling%20and%20Simulation%20by%20Anu%20Maria.pdf

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