Comparison of education based on simulation focusing on manufacturer-orientation attitude with systematic attitude to learning and retention of students of vocational schools

Educational simulation is a technique or a type of media that tries to show some behavioral aspects of a physical or abstract system in a different way using a specific behavior. Therefore, objective of this survey was to compare education[1] based on simulation with a focus on manufacturer-orientation attitude and systematic attitude of third grade vocational students studying computer on their learning and retention. Research methodology was semi-experimental including pretest, posttest and control group. Sample size is included 60 students studying computer in the vocational schools of the city of Kashan in 2015-2016. They were selected by the use of convenience sampling and simple random sampling and were placed in two groups i.e. treatment (40) and control (20). Participants in the treatment group received computer network lessons through simulation with manufacturer-orientation method, systematic attitude, and traditional method in 7 sessions. Data was collected by the use of standardized researcher-made questionnaire (difficulty, distinguish, and validity indexes); and data was analyzed through statistical methods of covariance. In order to design the simulated environment, Cisco Packet Tracer software was used. According to findings, the two treatment groups had progresses in learning and retention i.e. there was significant difference between their learning before and after education, but in the first group that was educated through simulation focusing on manufacturer-orientation attitude, the level of learning was higher than the group that had experienced systematic attitude. It means that in the variables of learning and retention, the first group had better results.