Journal of Research in Science Teaching. Abstract prepared by Chuck Downing, PhD . The idea of modeling or model building is a topic at least touched upon in nearly all science classrooms. According to student perceptions, keeping complete records is the key to scientific discovery. However, most working scientists are model builders-their lives tend to be dominated by building and testing models.
Scientists know that models channel observations and drive interpretations.
Penner, Giles, Lehrer, and Schauble chose the problem of how the human elbow works to be investigated via model building. Before beginning model building, students did guided research. This was a key finding, since it invited a more open-ended approach to student model building. Evaluation and change are important in model building, and not just for the fixing of mistakes. Model-based reasoning takes time to develop.