What is a Model?
Key features in common with the development of any model is that:
- simplifying assumptions must be made;
- boundary conditions or initial conditions must be identified;
- the range of applicability of the model should be understood.
Model Types:Below we identify 4 types of models for discussion and reference. Follow the link to a model type for an introduction to its use in the classroom and example activities. In practice a well developed model of a real-world system will likely contain aspects of each individual model type described here.
Conceptual Models are qualitative models that help highlight important connections in real world systems and processes. They are used as a first step in the development of more complex models.
Teaching with Interactive Demonstrations Interactive demonstrations are physical models of systems that can be easily observed and manipulated and which have characteristics similar to key features of more complex systems in the real world. These models can help bridge the gap between conceptual models and models of more complex real world systems.
Mathematical and Statistical Models involve solving relevant equation(s) of a system or characterizing a system based upon its statisical parameters such as mean, mode, variance or regression coefficients. Mathematical models include Analytical models and Numerical Models. Statistical models are useful in helping identify patterns and underlying relationships between data sets.
Teaching with Visualizations By this we mean anything that can help one visualize how a system works. A visualization model can be a direct link between data and some graphic or image output or can be linked in series with some other type of model so to convert its output into a visually useful format. Examples include 1-, 2-, and 3-D graphics packages, map overlays, animations, image manipulation and image analysis.
Several additional quotes relevant to using models and developing theories include:
- "All models are wrong but some are useful" George E.P. Box
- "Make your theory as simple as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein
- "For every complex question there is a simple and wrong solution." A. Einstein.
- "Modeling the Environment" Andrew Ford, 1999. Island Press, Washington D.C. This link gives an overview of Fords Text