Simulations reading group

Meeting 1: Falloon (2019)

Statements

  1. Simulations force a learner to go through an abstraction of reality.
  2. The way simulations are presented also has their layers of abstraction – visual representations, representation as lines of code, etc.
  3. Priors could matter when students get exposed to simulation.

Research question from Falloon

Can science simulations help young students learn simple circuit concepts, construction procedures estimation and testing procedures, and the function of circuit components?

Parallels

Can Monte Carlo simulations help intro stats students learn concepts related to a sampling distribution, estimation and testing procedures, and the function of each component which form a statistical procedure?

Another research question from Falloon

Do science simulations provide opportunities for young students to exercise higher order capabilities, such as reflective thinking and abstract conceptualisation?

Parallels

Do Monte Carlo simulations provide opportunities for intro stats students to exercise higher order capabilities, such as reflective thinking and abstract conceptualisation?

Categorizing the questions offered

  1. Practical and pedagogical

    • How to scale up
    • How to adjust to different classroom configurations
    • Extent and bases of instructor guidance and intervention

  2. Measurement and monitoring

    • How to detect if understanding or misunderstanding has occurred
    • Mapping of ELT to stats simulation activities