Resources - Model Thinking

Scott E. Page at the University of Michigan is running a fantastic, free, online course called Model Thinking. The course is a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) which means all the resources are free and anyone can take the course. The course is 8 weeks and takes 4-8 hours per week to study. To see if one is running at a convenient time for you, check the main Coursera page.

Most of the video lectures, produced by Scott E. Page for the course are freely available on YouTube we'll watch some of them during the course. Here are a few that are particularly relevant.

Using models to think more clearly

This video discusses how models can be used to help us build a formal picture of a system by identifying important system parts and the relationships between them. It also briefly covers:

the inductive method (using a model to create a pattern and subsequently build a theory)
different types of outcomes (equilibrium, cycle, complex, random)
Models as communication tools

Using models with data

Dr. Page discusses how models can work with data to better understand the world, including how they can help to:

Understand patterns
Predict points
Produce bounds (e.g. confidence limits)
Retrodict
Predicting other stuff ?
Inform data collection (identify data that needs to be collected)
Estimate hidden parameters
Calibration

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