What is Explanatory Modeling?

Explanatory modeling involves the construction, mental simulation, evaluation, and adaptation of a model to serve as a mechanistic explanation of a phenomenon. Initial evaluation of a candidate model involves a continuous process of mental simulation and comparison to selected features of the target to determine if it satisfies all constraints on potential explanatory mechanisms. Once a model is achieved that satisfies these constraints, it is mentally simulated to generate hypotheses that can be used to evaluate its specific dimensions. Then, students describe how they would evaluate these hypotheses against relevant empirical evidence and use these evaluations to confirm and/or extend their model or revise it if necessary. These kinds of activities have been shown to contribute to conceptual innovation in science and to greater depth of understanding by students.