Simulation Modeling of Lakes in Undergraduate and Graduate Classrooms Increases Comprehension of Climate Change Concepts and Experience with Computational Tools
Simulation Modeling of Lakes in Undergraduate and Graduate Classrooms Increases Comprehension of Climate Change Concepts and Experience with Computational Tools
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DOI：
10.1007/s10956-016-9644-2
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发表时间：
2017-02-01
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
Gougis, Rebekka Darner
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Carey, Cayelan C.;Gougis, Rebekka Darner
生态系统建模是环境科学家的一个至关重要的工具，但很少在本科生和研究生课堂上讲授。为了解决这一差距，我们开发了一个教学模块，让学生接触到一套建模技能和工具（包括计算机编程，数值模拟建模和分布式计算），学生可以应用这些技能和工具来研究地球仪周围的湖泊如何受到气候变化的影响。在该模块中，学生们提出关于不同气候情景对湖泊影响的假设，然后使用数百个模型模拟来测试他们的假设。我们在一个4小时的研讨会上教授该模块，发现参与该模块显着增加了本科生和研究生对气候变化对湖泊影响的理解。此外，参与该模块还显着提高了学生在使用不同的软件，技术和建模工具的感知经验水平。通过在环境科学背景下嵌入建模，非计算机科学专业的学生能够成功地使用和掌握他们以前从未接触过的技术。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，建模是催化学生学习气候变化影响的有力工具。
Ecosystem modeling is a critically important tool for environmental scientists, yet is rarely taught in undergraduate and graduate classrooms. To address this gap, we developed a teaching module that exposes students to a suite of modeling skills and tools (including computer programming, numerical simulation modeling, and distributed computing) that students apply to study how lakes around the globe are experiencing the effects of climate change. In the module, students develop hypotheses about the effects of different climate scenarios on lakes and then test their hypotheses using hundreds of model simulations. We taught the module in a 4-hour workshop and found that participation in the module significantly increased both undergraduate and graduate students' understanding about climate change effects on lakes. Moreover, participation in the module also significantly increased students' perceived experience level in using different software, technologies, and modeling tools. By embedding modeling in an environmental science context, non-computer science students were able to successfully use and master technologies that they had previously never been exposed to. Overall, our findings suggest that modeling is a powerful tool for catalyzing student learning on the effects of climate change.