Eighth grade students construct micro-level computational models to learn about electric circuit

The paper explores students' learning of electric circuit in physics through constructing computational models of complex systems using X.X.X.X platform. This study focuses on development of mental models that associate properties of a circuit at the macro level with elements at the micro level. We compared the learning of electricity, systems components by eighth-grade students using the XXX platform with students’ learning following a normative curriculum using textbooks. Results show that the experimental group successfully cultivated their learning at the micro level more than the comparison group and their reasoning included connecting between the macro and micro levels. Using clustering methods, a novel progression of five mental models were found that can provide for better scaffolding of learning electricity.