An Articulate Model of the Water Cycle

Samenvatting

This study describes several qualitative models capable of reasoning about the behaviour of the ecological domain of the water cycle. Qualitative models are useful in terms of explicit knowledge communication, and they can form a component of an intelligent tutoring environment. Particular methodological aspects of the design of qualitative models support the construction of simulation models that are suited for didactic purposes. Given this purpose, conceptual knowledge is captured in model fragments, which describe structures and processes. The domain of the water cycle can be viewed and explained with various scopes. Following ideas on how to structure the communication of knowledge, qualitative models inhabiting different levels of detail and perspective have been developed, each resulting in a particular simulation. The simulations are discussed and analysed, focusing on knowledge communication with the use of computer systems that are based on theories from cognitive science, artificial intelligence and instructional science.