Page 123 - Getting the Picture Modeling and Simulation in Secondary Computer Science Education

Chapter 6
Modeling and Simulation: Students’ Understanding and Difficulties Related to Verification and Validation
In this final study, we focus on students’ understanding and difficulties while working on Computational Science assignments in CS class. We interviewed eleven 12th grade secondary education students who made models and ran simulations of phenomena from other disciplines, and we charted their understanding related to modeling aspects research, abstraction, verification/validation and reflection together with difficulties they experience. We saw that the initial phases of the modeling cycle did not represent great challenge to the students, but that they still experience difficulties in the abstraction and verification/validation phases. The results of this study will inform the further development of the teaching materials, teaching methods and teacher training.