Making Dynamic Modeling Accessible to Precollege Science Students

Abstract

Dynamic modeling, for many precollege science students, is an out‐of‐reach cognitive activity. Professional tools are too hard for novices to use, user‐unfriendly, and provide no support for learners. We have designed a new modeling tool, Model‐It, that provides intentionally designed scaffolding for learners, enabling them to build and test dynamic models of complex systems easily, using object‐oriented and qualitative techniques. Model‐It contains scaffolding strategies intended to ground the learner in prior knowledge and experience, bridge the learner from novice to expert understandings and practices, and couple the learner's mental model with testing actions and model feedback. Our user and classroom testing shows evidence that the scaffolding strategies of Model‐It support learners' active construction of knowledge and that students can create meaningful models.