Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.

sg/2009/

Leveraging on Easy Java Simulation tool and open source computer simulation
library to create interactive digital media for mass customization of high school
physics curriculum

Loo Kang WEE Wai Keong MAK

Ministry of Education, Centre for Applied Research
Education Technology Division SiM University
Singapore, Singapore Singapore, Singapore
[email protected] [email protected]

This paper highlights the diverse possibilities in the rich and empower educators and students, to create interactive
community of educators from the Conceptual Learning of digital media through computer modeling.
Science (CoLoS) and Open Source Physics (OSP) movement to The concept revolves around a paradigmatic shift
engage, enable and empower educators and students, to create towards participatory learning for deep and immersive
interactive digital media through computer modeling. This computer modeling, as opposed to using technology for
concept revolves around a paradigmatic shift towards transmission of information.
participatory learning through immersive computer modeling,
as opposed to using technology for information transmission.
We recognize the prerequisite knowledge and educational
pedagogy necessary for such learning is suited for
We aim to engage high school educators to professionally undergraduate learners, attempts to bring this technology
develop themselves by creating and customizing simulations enabled pedagogy to high school students, is exciting.
possible through Easy Java Simulation (Ejs) and its learning On a more pragmatic note, we will be sharing with
community. Ejs allows educators to be designers of learning educators, existing library of ready made Easy Java
environments through modifying source codes of the Simulation (Ejs) [3] simulations and ways to customize
simulation. Educators can conduct lessons with students’ using simulations to suit the needs of their students.
these interactive digital simulations and rapidly enhance the This paper highlights a legal and free way of enabling
simulation through changing the source codes personally. educators and students to learn and modify existing source
codes to achieve finer customization of interactive digital
Ejs toolkit, its library of simulations and growing community media for enhancing learning for physics curriculum.
contributed simulation codes, in a Web 2.0 environment,
The Easy Java Simulations is created by, Francisco
potentially allows for rapid proliferation of mass customized
virtual laboratories simulation with educators as designers of
Esquembre who distributes it under a GNU GPL license [4]
learning environment. allows Ejs and its JAR library files to be copied and
distributed freely.
Our journey of remixing this simulation created an educator- Authors can distribute any simulation that they create and
customized interactive digital media virtual laboratory for remix using Ejs, preserve original authors and contributors of
advancing learning physics by inquiry. the source codes and link to the official Web page for Ejs:
http://fem.um.es/Ejs.
The process of creating a simulation also has desirable
pedagogical value that will be challenging to bring to high
In addition, educators like Fu-Kwun Hwang licensed his
school students to learn by modeling. The impediments to source codes under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5
using this method are discussed. Taiwan License [5], which means anyone is free to share and
remix the source codes under the condition of attribution of
original author.
Keywords- easy java simulation physics education teacher These innovative licenses aim to lower barriers to
professional development integrated e-learning applet learning collaborate in today’s media rich and highly interconnected
community open source self directed learning collaborative ICT world that we live in. Free and open source education
masterplan 21st century skills modeling teach less learn more resources are necessary nurturing conditions for spreading of
thinking school nation resources, and co-creation and co-authorship of learning
resources that can develop educators as designers of learning
I. INTRODUCTION environments. Now, educators and students can stand on the
shoulders of giants and learn about simulation building by
In the continued efforts to enrich and transform the tinkering creative commons license source codes.
learning environment in and outside formal school
education, we seek to highlight the community of educators II.INSTALLATION OF EASY JAVA SIMULATIONS AND LEARNING
in the Conceptual Learning of Science (CoLoS) [1] and ACTIVITIES
Open Source Physics (OSP) [2] movement to engage, enable
New readers to Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) may want to
refer to the website to download the latest version of Ejs and

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 1/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Additional materials like IV.LEARNING JOURNEY OF MODIFYING SIMULATIONS
Modeling Science Textbook Chapter 2: Introduction to Easy Easy Java Simulations (Ejs) is an authoring tool
Java Simulations [6], Modeling Science Textbook Chapter 3: developed for the conceptual learning of science. As high
Ejs and Java Concepts [7] and Modeling Physics with Easy school educators, we are able to design, create or modify
Java Simulations [8] are valuable starter learning activities. scientific simulations, especially with the examples in Ejs
III.MOTIVATION FOR USING EJS itself, ComPADRE Digital Library [11] and Web 2.0
community online forum like NTNUJAVA Virtual Physics
The concepts in linear momentum and kinetic energy and its Laboratory [12]. We can concentrate our effort in writing and
conservation in perfectly elastic and inelastic collisions are refining the relations in the underlying scientific model.
difficult concepts for many A- level Physics students. Ejs Rapid prototyping allows us to improve learners’ user
allows educators to be designers of learning environments to experience, build in scaffolds and hints for sense making.
allow for inquiry learning. A customized interactive digital Through modifying or creating simulations, we are engaged
learning environment can be a manipulative tool used by in constructive modeling, improving our understanding of
students. computational physics in this computer enabled pedagogy
[13]. Much of our journey requires us to be self directed as
well as to work collaboratively in the Ejs learning
community. We strengthen our ability to integrate ICT
meaningfully by creating inquiry learning environments for
sense making, aligned with Third Masterplan for ICT in
Education [14].
V.ONE DIMENSIONAL COLLISION VIRTUAL LABORATORY DESIGN
FOR A-LEVEL PHYSICS TOPIC: LINEAR MOMENTUM AND ITS
CONSERVATION

In our exploration on Ejs as a tool for teaching and

learning, we have already create a few examples of remixing
and customizing existing source codes into useful interactive
digital media [15].
After Ejs is downloaded from the Ejs website, unzip it
into a directory of your choice, for example
D:\Shared\EasyJavaSimulation.

Figure 1. Ejs Applet View of the interative digital media and virtual
laboratory.

Educators can pilot the use of these interactive digital

simulation, listen to the users’ feedback and improve the
interactive digital simulation without always relying on
difficult enhancement processes such as paying vendors to
build and add modifications later. Ejs creative commons and Figure 2. Example of Ejs console with options setting.
open source codes on Web 2.0 platforms, allow nurturing of
ecology of educators to rapidly proliferate of such
interactive digital simulation. Mass customizing of learning Executing the EjsConsole.jar file in the
digital media, both the process as well as the interactive installation directory will launch the console and the
digital simulation itself, can serve to work towards realizing building interface.
MOE’s vision of “Thinking School, Learning Nation”
TSLN, engage learners to prepare for life through Teach
Less, Learn More (TLLM) - transforming learning [9].
In addition, Ejs also presents a possible unified approach in
the building virtual laboratories [10], a standardized
platform for creating interactive digital media, allowing
continual improvements by anyone.

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 2/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

A. Look and Feel

Figure 4. Example of Ejs Property for Shape body1 with variables inputs.

We visualize the simulation space to mimic real life collision

carts setup. By exploring the existing property of body1, the
concepts of position x and y, size of the object in x and y
direction, style and fill color, we can begin to tinker and
change the visual property of cart 1.

Figure 3. Example of Ejs interface.

Open the file found at

D:\Shared\EasyJavaSimulation\Ejs_4.1_090215\Ejs_4.1\w
orkspace\source\users\murcia\fem\physics\mechanics\Collis
ion1D.xml depending on where the installation is unzipped.
It is a suitable source file for remixing into a virtual
laboratory environment for A-level physics. This is one of
the many simple models made for teaching Ejs as a
modeling tool and as an introduction to Ejs open
programming capability. Figure 5. Example of Ejs Property console with variables inputs for Shape
In our paper, we assume the reader has some knowledge wheel01 with variables inputs..
about Ejs so refer to [6], [7] and [8] for other starter
By adding the wheels to the carts, we learn about relative
activities. After examining the variables, evolution,
position in order for the position of the wheel to be in
simulation view, analyzing and tinkering with the codes, to
relation to the variables x1 and y. It is now possible to group
get an idea of how to model works, we pose ourselves the the items under a 2D group and input the position parts of
question: “How can we build on this existing expert source the cart1 referencing that 2D group relative positions.
codes?” Next, we conceptualize how this existing model can
be remixed into a virtual laboratory learning environment By shifting the position in the tree of
with us, the educators as designers of learning elements, we learn about the role of
environments. foreground and background like layers
concept in most drawing tools, in order
Use the “Save As” icon on the Ejs taskbar to create a
to achieve the look of the carts with the
copy of this file in your own working directory, for example
Ejs_4.1_090215\Ejs_4.1\workspace\source\users\your_orga wheels in front of the cart instead
nisation\your_name\Collision1Dyour_name.xml.
Designing a virtual laboratory environment is a non-linear of behind it .
process but we will discuss in brief some of the key stages.

Figure 6. Example of Ejs Tree of elements in VIEW for drawing Panel.

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 3/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

Page:

CODE II. DISPLAY OF STRING MOMENTUM EQUATION

s_mom2 = double2String(mass1,1.)+" *
( "+double2String(v_temp1,1000.)+" ) + "+
double2String(mass2,1.)+" *
("+double2String(v_temp2,1000.) +" ) = " +
double2String(mass1,1.)+" *
("+double2String(vxf1,1000.)+" ) + "+
Figure 7. Example of Ejs Property for Arrow velocity1 with variables
inputs. double2String(mass2,1.)+" *
( "+double2String(vxf2,1000.)+ " ) ";
Based on our students’ previous mental representation of
how velocity is visualized, we adjust the Pos Y equal to This allows acheckbox to be assigned
the variable hintmom for
y+2*radius1 to be above the cart . This allows displaying the dynamic hint for conservation of momentum
students to quickly relate what they see in textbooks to what that changes as the value varies:
they interactive with in the virtual laboratory. m1u1 + m2u2 = m1v1 + m2v2

The openness of the tool allows many possibilities for

designing hints and scaffolds, perhaps only limited by the
designer’s coding knowledge and the Ejs community.

B. Fixed Relations
We can declare more variables of the suitable type (Double,
Figure 8. Example of Ejs Property for Text mom22 with variables inputs.
Integer, Boolean, String or Object) and input fixed relations
We design pedagogical hints into the simulation view by such as these standard equations for calculation of the
determining the position x and y for it to appear, the visible physics quantities.
when hintmom (Boolean variable) is true, the text to appear
CODE III. EQUATIONS ADDED TO ALLOW FOR CALCULATIONS
%s_mom2%, offset in the position NORTH if needed and fill
color set to magenta. //formula correct for 1-D motion
The steps may seem very programming-like but the KE1 = 0.5*mass1*(vx1*vx1);
codes are available in source codes shared by the KE2 = 0.5*mass2*(vx2*vx2);
community. We just need to copy it with accreditation and mom1 = mass1*vx1;
adapt to our needs accordingly. mom2 = mass2*vx2;
totalKE = KE1 +KE2 ;
Page: totalmomentum = mom1 + mom2;
CODE I. DISPLAY NUMBER IN CORRECT FORMAT

// this code has to do with displaying the number 2.3 We start a panel for the
//instead of 2.300000001 when using % % simulation view and allow these
// donated by Fu-Kwun Hwang variables to be shown. For example,
double dv; start a panel on the left with layout
public String double2String(double v,double divider){ VBOX and key in the label text
if(v>0)dv=0.5; // if v>0 2.3 become 2, 2.5 become 3 (usually name of variable) and the
else if(v<0)dv=-0.5; // -2.3 become -2, -2.5 become -3 symbol “=”,
else dv=0; the field
return (int)(v*divider+dv)/divider+""; variable
} defined and
lastly a label
of the units
as text.

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 4/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

Inside the Events button, an event is specified by providing:

Figure 9. Example of Ejs Tree of elements in VIEW for panel. the zero condition, the desired tolerance, and the action to
invoke.
For ease of user interaction, 2 radio buttons
are designed for the legal state of the
collision types.

CODE IV. ELASTIC AND INELASTIC STATE

if ( elastic == true ) {
inelastic = false;
e = 1.0 ;
}
if ( inelastic == true ) {
elastic = false;
e = 0.0 ;
}
Figure 12. Example of Ejs Event for Ordinary Diffierential Equations in
Evolution Page.
We exercise creative problem solving and thinking, apply
some simple logic and programming syntax in java to allow We learn to use the information on the internet [16] and
only one state to be selected and assign the suitable values adapt to our coding variable assignment, engaging in
coefficient of restitution, e. contextual problem solving.
Ejs 4.1 has a code wizard to facilitate code syntax (e + 1)m2u2 + u1 (m1 − e.m2 )
compliance. v1 =
m1 + m2
(e + 1)m1u1 + u1 (m2 − e.m1 )
v2 =
m1 + m2
Here, we apply what is typically not taught to A-level
physics students, but may help students learn for life-long
learning, apply to a programming environment for meaning
making and deep learning.
Figure 10. Example of Ejs Code Wizard scaffolds. We had to look at the existing codes, make sense of it, and
device ways to implement the formula in physics textbooks
C. Evolution in the coding. The immediate feedback from the Ejs tool
allow us to reflect, tinker the codes, engage in deep problem
The equations of evolution are already in the sample source solving, communicate with community of experts in Web
codes provided in the Ejs download. They are defined in the 2.0 forums and learn beyond.
usual first order differential equations: In the pause condition tab, we can change the code to pause
the simulation.

CODE V. PAUSE CONDITION

if (x1>(max-radius1) || x1<-max+radius1 || x2>max-

radius2 || x2<-max+radius1) _pause();

For advanced learners, it is possible to create a challenge

task for deep contextual learning by posing the question
“How can the carts pause exactly at the edge of the screen?”
Here, we learn to reposition the codes and even a way to
stepback the simulation by –dt so as to achieve the
appearance of pausing exactly at the edge.

These are learning experiences, made possible with

Figure 11. Example of Ejs Equations View in Evolution Page. computers and Ejs.

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 5/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

D. Virtual Laboratory Design In the plotting panel, quantities for the plotting panel graph
For this learning environment to be used for inquiry paper shown as defined and self-explanatory.
learning context, the simulation can be designed with simple
sliders for variables with enough variation of values to
allow for pattern recognition and trends to emerge.

Figure 13. Ejs Slider control for variables in Applet.

The slider values can be selected to snap to closest, for ease

of values selection 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 kg for example instead
of 1.354 kg type of values.

Figure 16. Ejs Property for trace with variables inputs.

The trace defined what is to be drawn. The input X is

variable t, the input Y is mom1 for momentum of cart 1
depending on your assignment of variables, no repeat set to
Figure 14. Example of Ejs Property for Slider slider2 with variables inputs. true, connected set to true (false will give the data plotted
look like real data loggers), line color is assigned
The variable is assigned to mass1s, minimum value of 1 and body1color variable object (for ease of changing color),
maximum of 7, format is mass_1 = 0.0 kg (display will be stroke is 2 (thickness of line drawn) and marker shape is
7.0, change to 0.00 if desired display is 7.00) , number of ellipse.
ticks is 7, closest is true, enabled is true when enablebutton In fixed relations, this code is added for ease of changing
(Boolean type) is true and on drag run function _initialize() color.
( to run the codes in the initialization page).
In the initialization page, we assign back to slider values in CODE VII. ASSIGN VARIABLE BODY1COLOR
the variable mass1, for the rest of the calculations. body1color = new java.awt.Color(0,255,0,255); //green is
0,255,0 with transparent 255
CODE VI. MASS REMEMBER STORED VALUES

// add code to make mass remember stored values

mass1= mass1s ;
mass2= mass2s ;

E. Dynamic graph plotting capability

Figure 17. Ejs Plotting Panel Graph for momentum in applet.

We learn that Ejs is an easy tool to create visually accurate

and dynamically linked graphs with axes of our choice.
VI.IMPEDIMENTS TO USING EJS AS PEDAGOGICAL TOOL
Established pen and paper education system and
assessment makes it a challenge to create learning
Figure 15. Ejs Property for Plotting Panel with variables inputs.
experiences through tinkering with the source codes, such as

PAP591 DAY 2 Tuesday, 02 Jun 2009 NIE5-01-TR45 PAPER SESSION III 13:30 - 15:00 hrs 6/7
 Paper presented at the 3rd Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference June 2009, Singapore . http://conference.nie.edu.sg/2009/

those possible with Ejs. There is also the issue of difficulty to

learning just physics, because Ejs requires learning of
physics content as well as other computer programming, ACKNOWLEDGMENT
problem solving and critical thinking skills.
We wish to acknowledge the passionate contributions of
Established school culture, teacher pedagogical
Francisco Esquembre and Fu-Kwun Hwang for their ideas,
understanding of meaningful learning, technology maturity
knowledge and insights in the co-creation of interactive
and modeling skills are barriers to implementing these
digital media for education.
learning strategies.
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