Design principles for an open and wide Modellingspace of modelling, collaboration And learning

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to present and discuss the main design concepts and principles, for a collaborative modeling environment for sciences and mathematics (MODELLINGSPACE). It incorporates various representational formalisms, allows synchronous and asynchronous collaboration among students and supports teachers. The main design principles and related issues under discussion concern certain central design questions such as: what must be the main modeling primitives when addressed to young students 11-16 years old, in a wide range of cognitive possibilities? In what specific ways support students reasoning applying rich visualizations and multiple representations? How to assure flexible main collaborative actions and communications and how to support related learning community needs? The paper approaches equally important questions such as how to support selfregulation and metacognitive development for students and how to assure teachers needs accomplishment when working in typical real schools conditions?