3 Modeling the World

Outline Constructivism Metaphor & Analogies Scientific Modeling Object-Oriented Modeling for Software Collaborative Models Computing and Us

Mental Models Constructivism - Jean Piaget & Seymour Papert Khemlani, S., Barbey, A., Johnson- Laird, P.N., Causal reasoning with mental models. Nancy J. Nersessian Hawking and Mlodinow: The Grand Design Chapter 3 Model-dependent realism Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980 Computing and Us

Constructivism – Jean Piaget How do children comprehend the world around them? The child sees, hears, smells, feels but what to make of it? According to Piaget children construct mental models or schemas. Infant models are crude; i.e. an infant may think all 4-legged animals belong to the dog schema. As the child passes through stages of development differences between 4-legged animals become apparent. The child may try to assimilate the differences into the schema by ignoring or deeming them unimportant. Or accommodate the differences by revising the schema or introducing new ones. Hence, learning. Computing and Us

Piaget’s Developmental Theory Piaget's Developmental Theory: an Overview (4 mins /\) Piaget's stages of cognitive development | Processing the Environment Khan Academy (6 mins /\) Development: Schemas, Assimilation, & Accommodation (2 mins /\) Computing and Us

Seymour Papert Seymour Papert (1928- 2016) worked with Piaget at the University of Geneva from 1958 – 63. He went to MIT in 1963 founding the Epistemology and Learning Research Group which evolved into the MIT Media Lab. 1967 - 81 Papert and Marvin Minsky codirected the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory Computing and Us

Constructionism – A pedagogy Learning is reconstruction , not transmission of knowledge. (from Constructivism) Employ student-centered project-based learning with the teacher serving as coach. Students use manipulative materials to build a product. Papert devised the LOGO computer language for use in elementary schools. Mindstorms Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas By Seymour A. Papert (view full text) Seymour Papert – YouTube (6 mins /\ 1972) Computing and Us

Constructivism in Science Education Modeling Method – Whiteboarding (2 mins /\) A Modeling Approach to Physics Instruction (12 mins /\) - All Reality Consists of What Things? George P. Lakoff (9 mins /\) Computing and Us

Visual Thinking Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds TED Talk (20 mins /\ Makes the case for visual thinking) Computing and Us

Do we see reality as it is? Donald Hoffman: Do we see reality as it is? | TED Talk (22 mins) Rather than as a set of absolute physical principles, reality is best understood as a set of phenomena our brain constructs to guide our behavior. To put it simply: we actively create everything we see, and there is no aspect of reality that does not depend on consciousness. Donald Hoffman Computing and Us

Creating Scientific Concepts Nancy J. Nersessian Conceptual change derives from the use of analogies, imagistic representations, and thought experiments. Waterbury Interview - Nancy J. Nersessian (33 mins) Computing and Us

Model-dependent Realism The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow In the history of science we have discovered a sequence of better and better theories or models, from Plato to the classical theory of Newton to modern quantum theories. It is natural to ask: Will this sequence eventually reach an end point, an ultimate theory of the universe, that will include all forces and predict every observation we can make, or will we continue forever finding better theories, but never one that cannot be improved upon? We do not yet have a definitive answer to this question.. — Stephen Hawking & Leonard Mlodinow, The Grand Design, p.8 Computing and Us

What is a Good Model? According to Hawking & Mlodinow Elegant Few arbitrary or adjustable elements Agrees with and explains all existing observations Makes detailed predictions about future observations that can disprove or falsify the model if they are not borne out. Computing and Us

Models in Software Development UML class, dynamic diagrams MODELING FOR EVERYONE: EMPHASIZING THE ROLE OF MODELING IN STEM EDUCATION – See 5 ANDREAS TOLK Computing and Us

Designing Software for a Vending Machine Software developers need to understand the problem before designing a solution. UML (Unified Modeling Language) is a set of diagram conventions that allow developers to model the software. Initially the models are coarse. They show the big picture. The Use Case Diagram shows the system from the end users point of view. Computing and Us

Vending Machine Use Case Model There are just 2 users, a human hungry for a snack, and the machine described as system. The ellipses are functions available to each user. Computing and Us Borrowed from http://www.programsformca.com

The System Broken Down to Components Each rectangle will be programmed as a class using an object-oriented language such as Java or C++. Computing and Us

Class Diagram Each rectangle has 3 compartments” Class Name Attributes Methods The lines represent connections between classes Computing and Us

Sequence Diagram TIME This dynamic diagram follows the customer use cases of getting a snack. The classes are vertical lines named at the top. The horizontal lines represent messages between the classes. Computing and Us

CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) Tools The UML diagrams show different aspects of the system to be built. The “Unified” in UML means all developers use the same diagrams. It is easy for developers to confer and collaborate. As development proceeds more and more detail is added. CASE tools automatically generate code from the diagrams. Programmers need only code the difference between the generated code and the desired functionality. Computing and Us

Collaborative Models Communal Constructivism "Communal Constructivism: Students Constructing Learning for as well as with others," by Holmes, et al. Activity Theory Mind and Society by Lev Vygotsky ?? Wikipedia YouTube Crowd sourcing Computing and Us