Dawkins Models

Summary

Scientist utilize models and modeling to represent ideas and collaborate with others.  Teachers should incorporate modeling in classroom to help students furthers there understanding of various scientific concepts.

Models and Modeling: An Introduction

• Modeling is the process that scientists use to represent ideas about the natural world.  Models are a tool that is used to collaborate with other scientists.  One of the benefit of models is to stimulate new ideas.  The key to modeling is explanation of facts and ideas.  Despite the many benefits of modeling, effective modeling are often not used in the classroom.  Instead, poor representations of models such as poster boards are often used in the classroom.   Poor utilization of modeling in the classroom does not provide great benefits to students.  

What are models?

• Scientific models represent systems such as a wetland ecosystem.  Models does not include all important information.  Models are often reconstructed and updated with an increased knowledge base.  Effective models stimulate new ideas.

Models and modeling in the classroom

• Traditionally, models are found in textbooks used in schools.  These types of models are often used to communicate scientific ideas.  The concept of “posterize”(create posters of) are often used in classrooms.  This practice can be limiting due to the fact that real life reasoning is not incorporated in this process.  

What does scientific modeling look like in the classroom?

• Planning starts with reviewing of the curriculum along with the Next Generation Science Standards.  The teacher identifies the topic and reviews the concepts of the topic.  It is important to the teacher identifies misconceptions and unknown concepts.  The models that students create should be full of visual representations and explanations.  Most importantly, students should be able to add on to the concepts of model as their knowledge base increases.

Critique and questions:

The author does a great job of identifying poor models that are often used in the classroom.  

What are some additional tools that can be used to update text models displayed in school issued materials?  

The author mentioned English Language Learners can benefit from visual representations.  

Should different methods be used for English Language Learners as related to model creations?