Page 136 - Getting the Picture Modeling and Simulation in Secondary Computer Science Education

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Chapter 6
6.4.5 Constructing the Model
Models need to be built upon correct theoretical assumptions in order to make them conceptually valid, and, ideally, calibrated to fit the empirical data which are adequate and correct, thus ensuring data validity. To this end, one needs to possess adequate understanding of the phenomenon under scrutiny and engage in the process of abstraction.
Research
Adequate understanding of the phenomenon under scrutiny can be obtained through active engagement in research, as some of the students did, or by other means such as exploiting their own experience or utilizing what they learned at school.
In total, students reported relying on three sources of their knowledge of the phenomena they modeled.
1. Experience. All students rely on their experience or what they would consider common sense to a certain degree when considering their understanding of the phenomenon under scrutiny. Some of them consider this to be sufficient and feel no need to do extensive additional research, such as group G2 and presumably G6. Student S3 reported, “well, we had a fire drill once, bur further than that, we didn’t know the science behind it” but added that they consulted an article on how to model fire drills. Student S11 did not report doing any research or using any form of real-world data.
2. Learning at school. With several of the phenomena modeled, students involve what they learned at school within some other school subject into their modeling either to inform the essential assumptions, or for some additional detail. Group G4, who modeled Ohm’s law, relied on their existing knowledge of chemistry and physics and did not perform any additional research.
3. Research. In addition to their own experience or knowledge from school, some students go to great lengths when researching the data necessary for their model, and they subsequently calibrate their models to fit the data they found. Yet, this still does not guarantee a realistic model since some data are hard to find or it does not occur to students they need them. Groups G1 and G3 performed extensive research about the phenomena thy modeled and group G5 looked