Computational Thinking using Simulation and Modeling (CTSiM)

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Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q3 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

CTSiM is an open-ended learning environment developed for middle-school science learning through conceptual modeling, block-based computational modeling, simulation, debugging, and comparison with expert models.

Components

• CTSiM: a learning-by-modeling OELE for synergistic science and computational thinking learning: Computational Thinking using Simulation and Modeling (CTSiM) is an open-ended learning environment in which middle school students learn science by building conceptual and computational models. Students perform five primary tasks: reading a hypertext resource library, building conceptual models, constructing executable models with a block-based language, running simulations to debug behaviors, and comparing their model's behaviors to an expert reference model. Students have access to all interfaces at all times, which the authors say supports the open-ended nature of the approach. Units include kinematics, dynamics, diffusion, and ecology (fish tank). (Ningyu Zhang et al. (2022))

Claims

• Sixth-grade students using CTSiM showed significant pre-to-post gains on acceleration, diffusion, and CT tests, with moderate effect sizes for acceleration (0.43) and CT (0.57) and a large effect size for diffusion (0.9) [+M]

Related Products and Programmes

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Key Sources

• Ningyu Zhang, Gautam Biswas, Nicole Hutchins. (2022). Measuring and Analyzing Students' Strategic Learning Behaviors in Open-Ended Learning Environments. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 32, 931–970. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-021-00275-x

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	product
id	computational-thinking-using-simulation-and-modeling-ctsim
title	Computational Thinking using Simulation and Modeling (CTSiM)
description	CTSiM is an open-ended learning environment developed for middle-school science learning through conceptual modeling, block-based computational modeling, simulation, debugging, and comparison with expert models.
status	review
product_kind	software
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-28
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content

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