This talk presents a lesson in which students construct a qualitative model in DynaLearn to learn about black holes. The model explains how astronomers create images of black holes and is based on a norm model developed with domain experts. Students construct the model through a sequence of executable sub-models, receiving automated feedback by comparison with the norm model. The lesson addresses three interconnected aspects of black hole imaging: properties of the black hole, the accretion disc, and the telescope. Complexity gradually increases as students progress from simple causal relationships to analysing ambiguous simulation outcomes. A pilot study showed gains in systems thinking and domain knowledge, while highlighting challenges in articulating causal relationships.

Biography:

Tessa Hoogma is a teacher educator in physics at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and works within the Dutch Black Hole Consortium on the development, testing, and evaluation of teaching materials on black holes for secondary education. Central to this work is the question of how qualitative representations can be used to convey subject matter knowledge and support the understanding of complex systems.