Modeling for learning

Some years ago, we have introduced in the pedagogical scenario of a distance university course a learning activity consisting at having students create knowledge models with the object-typed knowledge modeling software MOT developed by Paquette (2002). At the same time, we initiated a series of studies aiming at evaluating the learning benefits and exploring the meditating effect of the use of this tool in the learning process, either in individual or collaborative conditions, as well as in face-to-face or distance educational settings. In our research, MOT is mainly used as a mean to support students’ text comprehension, but we also proposed this tool to professionals engaged in a vocational university program to help them reflect on how the curriculum knowledge domain is instantiated in their own professional practice. In addition, we provided training sessions to faculties and produced some documentation (available on the web) on the educational uses of knowledge modeling software in higher education (Pudelko & Basque, 2005). In this chapter, we first situate the MOT tool among other node-link visual knowledge representation tools used in educational settings. Next, we describe how we used MOT in three different learning contexts at the postsecondary level (individual learning by distance learners; collaborative learning in dyads at a distance; collaborative learning in large group in a face-to-face setting) and report some of the results of our studies.