Slide 29 of 32
Notes:
A meta model is a model about models. The knowledge structures described in this paper for concepts and processes and their associated cognitive processes for different types of problem solving using these knowledge structures provide a potentially useful meta mental model for a learner. If the learner knows the knowledge components and knowledge structure for a conceptual network, then he or she has a meta mental model for acquiring a conceptual network in a specific area. This meta mental model allows the learner to seek information for slots in the model. It provides a way for the learner to know if they have all the necessary knowledge components to instantiate their mental model. In enables the learner to extend their model of the concept under consideration by processing the concept schema for additional classes or by processing the schema to determine potential generalizations.
If the learner knows the knowledge components and knowledge structure for a PEAnet then he or she has a meta mental model for acquiring a process mental model for some specific phenomena. The PEAnet structure enables the learner to determine if all the necessary knowledge components are present. By representing the phenomena in a PEAnet the learner can run mental experiments to see what consequences should occur under given sets of conditions. The learner can conduct mental "what if" experiments to predict what happens when the conditions change. The learner can represent very complex phenomena in a very systematic way providing a much better understanding of the phenomena under consideration. Furthermore the learner can describe devices or situations that don't work correctly using the PEAnet meta mental model. This allows the learner to help determine why a given process is not working by identifying the conditions that may be faulted.
