Relationship Between Simulation methods and Learning goals

According to Alessi (1999), building simulation is a more constrained methodology. This implies that instructional methods drives the learning goal of declarative knowledge (e.g. what is) acquisition. In other words, building simulation is commonly applied to declarative knowledge; resulting in deeper learning.

In the event when the learning goal is the procedural knowledge (e.g. how to) acquisition (more contrained learning goal), it is best to prescribe the method of using simulation instead of building it. In other words, procedural knowledge is almost always addressed by using simulation.

When there is no constrained of the learning goal, using and building simulation can be used for declarative knowledge acquisition.

Also, when there is no constrained on the methodology, using simulation can used for both procedural and declarative knowledge acquisition.