INTEGRATION OF SIMULATIONS AND MATHEMATICAL MODELING IN THE TRAINING OF MINING SPECIALISTS: EXPERIENCE AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of modernizing the teaching of natural and mathematical disciplines in the training of mining specialists by integrating mathematical modeling and digital simulations, in particular the PhET platform. The relevance of the study stems from the need to ensure the applied, contextually relevant nature of learning, to develop in students the ability to analytically understand complex technical processes occurring in mining, as well as to increase interest and motivation to study fundamental disciplines that are traditionally perceived as abstract. The article describes the specifics of mining specialties that require specialists not only knowledge but also the ability to work with multifactorial models, predict the consequences of physical processes and make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. It is indicated that the safety and efficiency of future professional activities largely depend on the ability to deeply understand the mathematical and physical foundations of mining technologies. The research methodology is based on a combination of theoretical (literature analysis, comparative analysis) and empirical methods (survey, observation, pedagogical experiment). In the experimental groups, students worked with PhET simulations, modeled mining processes, and analyzed parametric changes and their impact on the results. Observations showed an increase in learning activity, initiative, and analytical thinking, and the survey results showed a positive perception of this methodology by students. The article provides examples of educational cases, builds comparative diagrams, and suggests practical steps for implementing the studied approach. It is concluded that the combination of simulations and modeling is an effective tool for developing the professional competence of future mining engineers in the digital educational ecosystem.