Integrated Simulation and Modeling: Using Participatory Simulations to Investigate the Complementarity of Object-based and Aggregate Reasoning for Making Sense of Complexity

Northwestern University, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

The PI's propose to conduct an in-depth study of the learning of secondary students engaged in making sense of complex system through participating in classroom participatory simulations. In particular, the PI's will study the complimentarity of two forms of reasoning: object based and aggregate reasoning. These forms of reasoning will be used to as resources to in making sense of complexity. To do so, the PI's will extend the functionality of the HubNet Participatory Simulations architecture by building an integrated simulation and modeling environment (ISME). This environment will be built to couple the networked simulations with object based (NetLogo) and aggregate Model-It) modeling tools. Finally, the PI's will extend and refine the Participatory Simulation Activities (PSA) and through iterative curriculum design incorporate the PSA inot curricular units targeted for secondary classrooms.