Open AccessVModel: A Visual Qualitative Modeling Environment for Middle‐School Students
Author(s) -
Forbus Kenneth D.,
Carney Karen,
Sherin Bruce L.,
Ureel Leo C.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
ai magazine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 2371-9621
pISSN - 0738-4602
ISBN - 0-262-51183-5
DOI - 10.1609/aimag.v26i3.1826
Subject(s) - computer science , mathematics education , representation (politics) , curriculum , qualitative research , simple (philosophy) , psychology , human–computer interaction , pedagogy , sociology , social science , philosophy , epistemology , politics , political science , law
Learning how to create, test, and revise models is a central skill in scientific reasoning. We argue that qualitative modeling provides an appropriate level of representation for helping middle‐school students learn to become modelers. We describe Vmodel, a system we have created that uses visual representations and that enables middle‐school students to create qualitative models. Software coaches use simple analyses of model structure plus qualitative simulation to provide feedback and explanations. This system has been used in several studies in Chicago public school classrooms, using curricula developed in collaboration with teachers. We discuss the design of the visual representation language, how Vmodel works, and evidence from school studies that indicate it is successful in helping students.