Modeling Training Unit 1 - Scientific Thinking in Experimental Settings

So the modeling course training leads us teachers through the modeling curriculum where we have to be in student mode at times (where we work through the activities as if we were our students.  I had to think about my average Physics student and ask questions as if I was that student) and in teacher mode at other times.  The teacher mode debrief would take place after the student session had taken place.  At this time, we could ask questions dealing with the intricate details of the student session and discuss any questions we had about the whiteboard session.  The white board session is a prime component of the modeling classroom.  You will see pictures of various whiteboards throughout this blog. 

The first session was about how to lead students through data collection using simple tools.  The first task was to determine if there was a relationship between the number of inches in a meter stick and the number of centimeters in a meter stick.  Here is a picture of a couple of whiteboards we did in class:

There was a good discussion about what should be the independent variable and what should be the dependent variable.  We determined that the independent variable would the the variable that you manipulate or have "direct control" over.  The dependent variable will always be the response of the independent variable.  This simple activity served quite a few purposes.  It will allow me to introduce the students to whiteboard discussions, a refresher on graphing, looking for graphical relationships and to make meaning of them, and that every linear relationship will have a "For every ......  " statement with it.