"My session is unique because it presents an innovative computational modeling tool that allows students to construct and represent complex systems. The tool, called SageModeler, is a systems dynamics modeling platform that has been shown to support students in making sense of complex scientific phenomena while applying systems thinking.
I have been working with high school science teachers in Green River and Douglas to develop a unit that uses this tool to support students in making informed decisions about Socio-Scientific Issues. Many contemporary issues in Wyoming require scientific knowledge to inform social decisions. Questions such as whether wolves should be reintroduced into Yellowstone, whether a new modular nuclear reactor should be built in Kemmerer, or whether AI data centers should be developed in the state all demand careful scientific reasoning.
This session will not only introduce a powerful new tool that teachers can integrate into their classrooms, but will also provide practical strategies to support teachers in preparing scientifically literate citizens capable of navigating complex and consequential public issues."
