VMODEL
STEPS IN MAKING A MODEL

STEPS IN MAKING A MODEL

 Target   Plan   Describe   Connect   Predict    CHECK

Checking your model

When it is time to check your model, the professor will look at your predictions and the model you created. The professor will check to see if your model explains the predictions. He will also check for things in your model that might be confusing, like an increases and a decreases arrow going to the same thing. .
 If your model could explain your prediction, but some things are unclear, the professor looks confused. How to resolve things that aren't clear.
If your model explains your predictions and is clear, the professor smiles.

WARNING: The professor checks to see if you made the model so that the behavior of the model matches your predictions. He doesn't check to see if your prediction was right in the first place. He also doesn't check to see if your model is missing anything or has the wrong processes and basic objects in it.

How does the professor know if your model explains the prediction?

The professor looks at the prediction and then checks to see if the processes and influences are changing it in a way that matches the prediction. Here is an example.

  1. The professor starts by looking at the processes in the model and what they increase or decrease. This model only has one process, filling, and it increases the amount of water. So the amount of water is increasing. He puts a plus by the amount of water showing that it is increasing..
  2. Then he looks for influences between parameters. Since the model says that amount of water influences level of water, and the amount of water is increasing, the professor can figure out that the level of water is increasing, so he marks it with a plus sign, too.
  3. Then he looks for any other predictions or parameters. There is another prediction on temperature. Nothing is affecting temperature so it is unchanging. The model does not match the prediction on water temperature. He marks it in red, and puts a question mark showing that he can't tell which way its going.
  4. Finally, the rate on filling is not affected with anything, so the professor marks that with a question mark, too.

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