Collaborative learning by modelling

Observations in an online setting

Abstract

A custom-designed combination of a chat tool and a wiki tool was used to engage postgraduate education students online in system dynamics modelling tasks. The purpose of the course was to familiarise students with core concepts of the complexity sciences, and to introduce them to modelling complex systems as a means to research processes of learning and organisational change. The rationale for the online course as well as the technology employed is described. Observations from two student teams using the Stella™ modelling software while cooperating in the online learning environment are reported, both with respect to their modelling activities as well as their team coordination behavior. We conclude with an identification of the main advantages of learning about a difficult subject area collaboratively and net-based.