Modeling
Modeling Theory aims at elucidating the roles of models
and modeling in scientific knowledge and practice. It provides
a foundation for a realist philosophy of science and a constructivist
teaching methodology. This is discussed with reference to Newtonian
mechanics in the articles below. Modeling pedagogy and its
implementation in physics teaching is addressed at the
Modeling Instruction Program site.
- Abstract. The basic principles of Newtonian mechanics can
be interpreted as a system of rules defining a medley of modeling
games. The common objective of these games is to develop validated
models of physical phenomena. This is the starting point for a
promising new approach to physics instruction in which students are
taught from the beginning that in science "modeling is the name of the
game." The main idea is to teach a system of explicit modeling
principles and techniques, to familiarize the students with a basic set
of physical models, and to give them plenty of practice in model
building, model validation by experiment, and model deployment to
explain, to predict and to describe physical phenomena. Unfortunately,
a complete implementation of this approach will require a major
overhaul of standard instructional materials which is yet to be
accomplished. This article lays down physical, epistemological,
historical, and pedagogical rationale for the approach.
D. Hestenes, Am. J. Phys., 60:
732-748 (1992).
© American Institute of Physics (http://www.aapt.org).
- Abstract. Modeling Theory provides common ground for
interdisciplinary research in science education and the many branches
of cognitive science, with implications for scientific practice,
instructional design, and connections between science, mathematics and
common sense.
D. Hestenes, Proceedings of the 2006 GIREP
conference: Modelling in Physics and Physics Education
- Abstract. This is the initial report of a long term
research program on the design of integrated
computer software systems for physics education specifically, and
math-science education generally. The program is grounded in a theory
of instruction which is centrally concerned with the construction,
validation and use of scientific models for objects and processes in
the real world. It aims to develop a detailed theory of software design
which supports and coordinates all aspects of conceptual and
computational modeling. The theory is applied to the design of a
versatile Modeling Workstation for learning and doing physics by
computer, including the coordination of both experimental and
theoretical activities.
D. Hestenes, in: Thinking Physics for
Teaching., Ed. Carlo Bernardini et al, 25-65 (1995).
© Plenum Press.
- Philosophy is written in that great book which ever lies
before
our eyes - I mean the Universe - but we cannot understand it
if we do not first learn the language and grasp the symbols in
which it is written. This book is written in the mathematical
language, and the symbols are triangles, circles, and other
geometrical figures, without whose help it is impossible to
comprehend a single word of it; without which one wanders in
vain through a dark labyrinth.
-- Galileo Galilei
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1.
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Models and Theories |
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2.
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The Zeroth Law of Physics |
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3.
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Generic Laws and Principles of Particle Mechanics |
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4.
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Modeling Processes |
© D. Hestenes. Originally
published as Chapter 9 in the first edition of New
Foundation for Classical Mechanics