Fostering Mental-Model Thinking During Design

New Search

Print Abstract

E-mail Abstract

Full Text

Save to My Collections

Export Citation

Hachey, A., Tsuei, L. & Black, J. (2001). Fostering Mental-Model Thinking During Design. In C. Montgomerie & J. Viteli (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2001 (pp. 636-642). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
Retrieved from http://www.editlib.org/p/8788.

• Share:
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Conference Information

World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications (EDMEDIA) 2001
Norfolk, VA
2001
ISBN 1-880094-42-8
  Craig Montgomerie & Jarmo Viteli
AACE

More Information on EDMEDIA
Table of Contents

Authors

Alyse Hachey, Lisa Tsuei, John Black, Teachers College, Columbia Univ., USA

Abstract

To investigate the use of mental-model reasoning about mechanisms in design, we had 12-13 year old students design a Mars Colony including physical, biological and social systems. Unlike previous research, we did not find significant gender differences in the designs. We found more reasoning about mechanisms from the beginning with physical systems than with biological and social systems. However, this mechanism reasoning did not increase across three design sessions for any of these systems. We did get increases in the initial relations that the students included in their designs. However, this was countered by a decrease in component and relational thinking during the final trouble-shooting task. We suggest that a more guided design environment starting with physical systems and then moving on to biological and social systems will be needed to foster mental-model reasoning about mechanisms with students this age during design.

Keywords

• Physical Environments
• Students

Also Read

• Object-Oriented Thinking for Mental Model Development
• Mental Models: Using Visual Concept Maps To Understand the Multimedia Learning Process
• REAL: Facilitate Thinking in an Object-oriented Way
• The Missing Ingredient in Online Learning: Improving Learner Performance Through Exposure to Instructor Corrected-Errors in AVBL
• Exploring How Agents-based Modeling and Culture Affects Children’s Understanding of Complex Systems
• 4-D Modeling Tools and Mental Models: What Can We Learn From Usability Testing?
• MASTER: A Computer–Mediated Tool for the Development of Probability Mental Models
• The effects of metaphor on computer users' mental models and information search behaviors
• The Potential for an Object-Oriented Model of Learning
• Streaming ECDL Courses – Results from a 14 months trial. Report from a Project Using DVB Satellite-based Lecturing.

Tags