Hands-on modeling and simulation of systems

Authors:
Oren Zuckerman;Mitchel Resnick
Affiliations:
MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge MA;MIT Media Laboratory, Cambridge MA
Venue:
Proceedings of the 2004 conference on Interaction design and children: building a community
Year:
2004

Citing 2
Cited 2

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Abstract

We present the latest prototype of System Blocks, a new interactive learning environment that facilitates hands-on modeling and simulation of systems concepts. System Blocks, by making processes visible and manipulable, can help students learn about the core concepts of systems at a younger age. K-12 schools rarely introduce students to core concepts of systems such as interconnectedness, positive and negative feedback, stocks and flows, or time delay. These concepts are considered "too hard" for pre-college students. Using System Blocks, 5th grade students with no prior instruction in systems were able to model and simulate systems, to interact with concepts such as net-flow dynamics and positive feedback, and to successfully connect the simulations to real-life examples.