Analytical Modeling - Day 2
Repository: https://github.com/colbrydi/analytical-modeling
Agenda (80 minutes)
- 10 min - Check-in and brief repository review
- 20 min - Guided discussion of symbolic modeling and parameter interpretation
- 35 min - In-class work on the analytical modeling notebook sequence
- 15 min - Group share-back and questions
Learning Goals
By the end of this class, you should be able to:
- Describe the role of symbolic tools in exploring analytical models.
- Interpret parameter sensitivity and model behavior using computation.
- Use the repository notebooks to explore model structure and assumptions.
- Identify places where a model may be easy to interpret but difficult to trust.
In-Class Focus
This class continues the analytical-modeling workflow by moving from model definition to model interpretation. We will focus on understanding what parameters do, how solutions behave, and how a model can be analyzed both symbolically and numerically.
Use the repository as the main working reference:
- Repository: https://github.com/colbrydi/analytical-modeling
- Notebook sequence: Part 1 and Part 2
The emphasis is on reasoning, not just producing code output. As you work, ask:
- What does the model actually represent?
- Which parameter changes the behavior most?
- What is the difference between a symbolic answer and a numerical observation?
- What does model behavior suggest about the assumptions behind the model?
Before Next Class
- Finish the notebook work from today if needed.
- Capture one example from the repository that connects to your own research project.
- Bring one question about the analytical model or its assumptions to the next class.