A Multimedia Environment for Teaching Mathematical Modeling and Observing the Stages of Learning
Chang Kok Hau
kokhau@singnet.com.sg
London University External Programme
Singapore Institute of Management
Singapore
P.M.Nobar
npm@np.ac.sg
Mathematics & Science Centre
Ngee Ann polytechnic
Singapore
Abstract
Teaching mathematical modelling to undergraduate and postgraduate students who are reading science in higher education institutions is not an easy task. At present the type of education in schools and early years of universities cannot provide the suitable background required in mathematical modelling courses. Mathematical modelling is a course where physical and conceptual worlds meet. That is, the mathematical modelling courses concern the construction of mathematical models of physical problems and their approximate solutions. The mathematical modelling course at Open University in Singapore is a comprehensive course with an emphasis on construction of realistic models. Because of the distance learning nature of the Open University, students experience a considerable amount of difficulties during the course. In order to facilitate the teaching activities, the authors have constructed a multimedia teaching environment which can assist the novice students during their modelling activities. In order to illustrate the superior nature of learning process in this type of multimedia learning environment the stages of learning process have been compared to the basic information processing model of the human being.
© Asian Technology Conference in Mathematics, 1998. |
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