Experience with teaching the art of modeling and simulation at ETH Zurich led over many years to a concept where the students (in approximately equal parts) get acquainted with the theoretical basis of modeling and simulation, are taught how to use two of the more frequently used simulation languages (CSMP for continuous system Simulation, and GASP for discrete event and combined continuous/discrete system simulation), and acquire practical experience by solving small scale simulation problems on the computer. The success of a simulation course depends substantially on the available computer facilities and on the documentation placed at the students' disposal. It is of utmost importance to carefully choose the theoretical topics to be presented in such a course, to balance between the diversity of topics and the depth of elaboration.
The aim of this paper is to describe both form and contents of the lecture on simulation techniques being offered at ETH Zurich by the authors.
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