Seel (2003)

Seel's (2003) provides a very good overview of model-based learning and teaching. I think his focus in about "improving" of mental model. In figure 4 (p.70), Seel's description of the learning process have a final state. It is quite similar to what Clement (2008) described in his chapter. So, instructors are helping the learners to progress in mental model revision towards the final state.

I believe that final state maybe the goal of an instruction.

In the research scenario 1, Seels talked about presenting models to learners will affect their construction of mental model. I still haven't read the seminal work of Mayer(1989). I believe presenting model should affect learner's mental model construction, but how/in which direction?

This week, I read an article in Dr. Greene's class, Hall, Bailey & Tillman 1997 about student-generated illustration. Their claim is asking students to generate pictures is better than giving them the pictures when measuring their problem-solving ability. So, it sounds like that they asked the students to re-creating a model from text. Seel mainly talked about comparing students who build models with students who were given models. Actually, there can be a third case that the students generate models after they see some kind of model. Maybe that is cognitive apprenticeship when students see how the mentor created a model.

Victor