Developing and testing a new course for teaching the fundamentals of building performance simulation

During the past decades building performance simulation (BPS) tools have become complex. Alternate methods are offered for resolving many of the significant heat and mass transfer processes and energy conversion systems. At the same time, modern user interfaces allow users to quickly ascend the learning curve to operate tools in order to produce simulation predictions, although the prediction of accurate results is perhaps becoming more challenging. In a previous paper we proposed a continuous learning cycle that includes exposure to theories and the application of tools from the start for effectively teaching BPS. This involves having the students actively experiment with BPS tools to support the theoretical study of modelling and simulation theory. This paper presents the pedagogical basis, the intended learning objectives, and the procedure for such a course. This contains a series of simulation exercises we have developed for supporting the teaching of models for simulating heat and mass transfer processes and convective heat transfer pertinent to the indoor environment. It also presents the feedback provided by the first two groups of students that have piloted these exercises.