3 Hard to teach areas: modelling

Introducing modelling

‘Pupils should be able to … test predictions and discover patterns and relationships, exploring, evaluating, and developing models by changing their rules and values’

(KS3 ICT programme of study)

Modelling is about asking and answering ‘what if?’ questions, and is often taught through spreadsheets. However, it can be challenging to engage youngsters through such an approach, at least initially, because spreadsheets are perceived as ‘boring’.

In this section you will consider a different approach to introducing the topic of modelling, one which is highly visually appealing. The purpose of this approach is to ‘hook’ youngsters and get them interested in modelling.

Introducing Microsoft Pivot

Microsoft Pivot is a visually attractive and interesting tool that can be used as a way of introducing the concept of modelling and stimulate rich discussions in the classroom. It displays data visually, and enables you to apply filters by checking or unchecking boxes. You can also combine different data sets in different ways, in a very intuitive and visual manner. Being highly visual, Pivot has an immediacy which numbers alone lack for many pupils. It therefore lends itself very well to asking and discussing very probing questions without having to immediately delve into the underlying formulae.

To get a fuller idea of the Pivot modelling tool, start by watching this TEDTalks video [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] of a conference presentation about it. (Just over 6 mins long)

The following videos explain in more detail what Pivot is about:

Download Pivot from http://www.silverlight.net/ learn/ data-networking/ pivot-viewer/ pivotviewer-control and install it. Then go to the Pivot Collection Gallery and select Dog Breeds (e.g. small dogs live longer than big dogs) and explore the correlations (relationships) between factors such as size, life span and exercise needs. Look at the Scenarios video on http://www.microsoft.com/ silverlight/ pivotviewer/ to see how Pivot can be used.

Reflection

  • How could a tool like Pivot as a way of introducing students to the use of ICT to discover patterns and relationships, and to test predictions?
  • What could you do to enable your students to progress to the next stage, that of changing the rules and values in a model?
  • Why is modelling often perceived as being difficult to teach?
  • If you wish, you can take this further by creating your own Pivot dataset, although this is a somewhat technical undertaking. Detailed instructions can be found here: http://www.silverlight.net/ learn/ data-networking/ pivot-viewer/ pivotviewer-control.
  • Stop Disasters! is an online simulation game which models real-life disaster situations. It’s a different approach to modelling, which you may prefer to use instead of, or in addition to, Pivot as a way of introducing the concept of modelling to your students. Each game takes about 25 minutes to play. Look at it, and consider how you could use this simulation as a way of introducing the idea of modelling to your students.
  • How could you relate the Stop Disasters! simulation to the modelling concepts specified in the KS3 ICT programme of study?

Further reading

Modelling, interesting web pages which explain modelling and simulation using a range of examples.

Sample teaching unit on spreadsheet modelling from The National Strategies, for ICT. It contains useful advice, but note that this site may disappear in time as it no longer represents Government policy.

Why teach spreadsheets? An article which looks at how spreadsheets can be used in an interesting way to teach modelling and sequencing.

2 Understanding ICT at Key Stage 3

4 Hard to teach areas: presenting information