%0 Journal Article
%T Collaborative modelling lab to increase learning engagement
%A Gwendolyn Kolfschoten
%A Niki Frantzeskaki
%A Alexander de Haan
%A Alexander Verbraeck
%J Engineering Education
%D 2008
%I 
%X Modelling is one of the critical skills that engineering students need to acquire. Models are used to represent complex processes or systems in order to enhance understanding of a particular aspect. Hence, models need to be constructed in such a way that information and understanding of a complex reality can be reduced to a pragmatic assessment at the project level. In modelling education we find a paradox. The end-result of a modelling exercise is, by definition, a less complex representation of the system or process that is studied. Therefore, when providing examples of a modelling task, the true complexity of the analysis and process is often underestimated. Consequently, studying worked examples of a model or observing a teacher during the modelling process is insufficient to learn how to analyse and to model a system or a process. The difficulty of the task is only experienced and understood when students try to model by themselves. However, from the authors¡¯ experience, this is difficult to accomplish in a classroom setting. In this study we tested a new method for a modelling lab: a semi-structured interactive workshop in which students work in groups on large whiteboards using flexible modelling blocks. We evaluated the method using a questionnaire and the results are encouraging.
%K collaborative planning
%K engineering education
%K modelling
%U http://www.engsc.ac.uk/journal/index.php/ee/article/view/107/138