Crocodile Clips
Simple Simulation Software
Crocodile Technology review, Journal of D&T Education
April 2002
In general terms this package is a welcome extension to the Crocodile Clips software that has been around now for some years. The facility to build circuits from components on screen is a powerful teaching tool, especially when the pupils can 'see the circuit working'. One difficulty when teaching electronics is the confidence held by pupils that all is well through the planning stage and usually OK through the construction stage. The problems really begin when power is applied to the circuit and the exciting project changes into a seemingly worthless pile of components soldered to a board! It doesn't work! I'm sure we have all been in this situation.
The program opens with a good menu and clearly leads the user through like the chapters in a book. The illustrations are excellent showing the simplest circuits at the start of Chapter One with images of real components like lamps and switches. As we move onto the next stage we see circuits using standard symbols but the real benefit is that they can be seen to work. The switches actually do light up. Hover the arrow over components and the screen displays what is really happening there at that point. I think it doesn't get any better from a learning point of view. There is a massive amount of information provided and the program is very much a dabbler's paradise! It really is fascinating to work with information in this form as it allows the user to construct mechanical or electronic systems on screen and to see them work.
From a pupil's point of view, it is designing with a superb safety net since components chosen of the wrong value will simply explode on screen! This has an obvious cost implication but more importantly shows that little bit of humour often lacking in this subject area. Electronics and control can be very 'dry' as the pupils have to understand a range of new terms and procedures before they can effectively begin to construct, but this style of presentation allows them to progress more rapidly and they would find it to be really excellent. Thoughtfully provided is also a range of notes which allows the user to progress their understanding using a well organised sequence of information. These tests are well compiled and very supportive.
Pupils, and equally teachers, using this resource will find it to be a very well structured program which really delivers. There is even a facility to write programs for downloading into PIC chips. Really, what more do you need? I am very impressed by Crocodile Technology and would consider this to be another really important addition to any resource base. Worth 'snapping up' a copy today! (apologies!).