For this post I found a website (http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/models/Usefulness.html) that gave some pretty good reasons for why models are useful.
One reason was that models provide an environment for interactive student engagement. The website says that Interactive engagement (IE) "is achieved by questioning students or challenging them to think or to do something that requires thought" and that in an IE environment students are allowed to interact with another and the teacher only acts as a "guide". The webiste also says that in an IE environment students learn better than in the traditional setting when the teacher will just lecture the students.
Another reason the website gave was "Earth System Models such as those at Earth-System Models of Intermediate Complexity (more info) allow us to perform experiments related to the Earth System without altering and potentially harming the actual Earth." So with models we are able to perform experiments that relate to the Earth much faster and safer than if we actually did them on the Earth.
There were several more reasons that the website gave so I suggest you check it out and if you like what you see give me some feedback to tell what you liked about it.
9 comments:
So here is the problem Smeber, in your post you mentioned that a benefit of using models was that we can test it and abuse it and do whatever, without actually messing with the real thing (in this case Earth). For this point then, how can we ensure that the model will behave in the same way Earth would? If it doesn't, than this model would be garbage. This really ties into global warming because most of our "evidence" about what has happened and what will happen comes from models. Who makes the models?
I think your websites were good. I think using models in school to learn things is way better especially for little kids. It is much easier to consintrate when you're touching something and acutally doing things instead of taking notes from a lecture or something. I also agree with Mr. Voight. A model can't function the exact same way it's real thing does. (you can't physically make a mini earth)
Doesn't performing experiments on things other than what we are making conclusions about totally ruin the point of the experiment? How do you know that it will react anywhere near the same as the model? It would be like performing an experiment on a model of an atom. The same results probably would not occur for the model and the real thing. As for the Interactive engagement thing it sounds fairly interesting and probably could be very useful. It allows the students to learn for themselves instead of information just being thrown at them.
Yeah. I was sort of thinking about how they could make a model of the Earth but since the website I read said they could I just wanted to back it up.
ya so performing experiments on a model of Earth to help it. Thats interesting. But, you gots to make sure the model is really accurate or you'll skrew up the Earth thinking that your helping it.
Good job tho
nice site and interactive student engagement. oufda
very professional and sounded important and that you knew what you were doing. I thought that using models to teach is a great point as well.
I thought what you were saying about interactive engagement was really interesting, because i know how a lot of people are visual learners or whatever its called where they need to touch, so the interaction really helps.
wow what is it with you people!!??
i just mean yunus and subuu. ugh. dont comment me anymore yunus.
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