MODELS AND MODELING IN SCIENCE

Insights into Models and the Modeling Process

Importance of Models in Science
- Models are crucial for the communication and comprehension of scientific concepts.
- Without models, science becomes unteachable and unlearnable.
- Models serve as prerequisites for scientific theories and stem from empirical evidence.
Common Misconceptions Among Students
- Students often perceive models merely as miniatures of real-life objects.
- There is a lack of awareness regarding the heuristic functions that models serve in the scientific process.
- Teaching often focuses on depicting certain aspects of models rather than emphasizing their explanatory roles.

For scientists, models represent explanations, organization of observations, and visualization of complex processes.
Different disciplines may have varying perspectives on models, but the modeling process is often misunderstood by students.
A well-developed model arises after empirical evidence is collected, while students typically see models before grasping the theoretical underpinning.

Colleagues from Berlin developed a competency model to assess students' grasp of models and modeling processes.
Dimensions of Competency:
- Knowledge about the Nature of Models
- Knowledge about the Multiple Uses of Models
- Purpose of Models
- Testing of Models
- Understanding When Models Change
Levels of Understanding:
- Level 1: - Limited perspective; models viewed as simple copies of the original.
  - Example: A model of a brain that overlooks internal structures, focusing only on its shape.
- Level 2: - Models recognized as idealized representations, capturing certain aspects but lacking understanding of the theoretical model behind them.
- Level 3: - Models seen as theoretical reconstructions that highlight specific features while enabling hypotheses testing about the original.

Competency models reveal that students may not develop uniformly across all five dimensions.
Educators should utilize this model to assess students' conceptual growth in various dimensions.
Not every student needs to reach the same level in all dimensions simultaneously.

Emphasize the Highlighting and Hiding aspects of models in discussions.
- Example: In a model depicting the hearing system, rubber representations are used to illustrate aspects, but the limitations of this medium must be discussed.
Students tend to focus on irrelevant aspects of models; it is essential to clarify relevant focal points.
Discussion on highlighting and hiding helps track students' conceptual development effectively.

Using models in education is beneficial, but requires careful facilitation.
Ensure discussions are held about the strengths and weaknesses of the models used.
Use competency models to gauge where students are in their understanding and adjust teaching strategies accordingly.