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SYSC 330U: Models in Science
2016 Syllabus
Meets Cluster Course Requirements for University Studies
Science in the Liberal Arts (SLA)
Knowledge, Values, and Rationality (KVR)
Summary
This interdisciplinary course focuses on the role of models in scientific inquiry. Students explore how scientists from a variety of disciplines use different types of models, including physical, animal, mathematical (analytic and numeric), and agent-based models. To facilitate this exploration, the course is divided into three main sections.
Definition: We evaluate the definition of "Science," "the Scientific Method," and "Model." Here we also look briefly at what philosophers of science have said about how models fit into scientific inquiry.
Analysis: We critically analyze a variety of models used in research from different disciplines. We will read about models as they are in use and interact with several simulation models to get a feel for how they can be used scientifically. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of modeling (in general) as a tool for posing and answering scientific questions. And we will identify modeling techniques that are best suited for answering different types of scientific questions.
Synthesis: Students write a term paper where they identify a scientific field of interest and describe how several types of scientific models are currently being used in that field to contribute to scientific knowledge.
Basic Course Structure
The structure of this hybrid course follows a basic weekly format:
Students complete a "pre-session" homework assignment before class, such as an assigned reading, video, or activity.
Students participate in class in the "main session" activities, and
Students complete a "post-session" homework assignment, through an online discussion forum on D2L.
Grading
Points are allocated as follows:
Pre-Session Homework Assignments 20% (2.5 points for each of 8 weeks)
Main Session Participation 10% (1 point each week)
Post-Session Homework 30% (2 points for each of 15 discussions)
Quizzes 20% (10 points each for midterm & final quiz)
Final Paper 20% (points distributed throughout)