> As a generalization, how does one explain things where no good mental model exists?
Papert et al. are convinced that computers ought to help with this problem. The idea is that visualizations, even if they are interactive, aren't very useful. Instead, the learner should iteratively build and play with a simple version of a model (a microworld) until the learner gets into the full-fledged model. Preferably by programming the model itself.
It's sad that this idea never caught much traction beyond educating children.
Papert et al. are convinced that computers ought to help with this problem. The idea is that visualizations, even if they are interactive, aren't very useful. Instead, the learner should iteratively build and play with a simple version of a model (a microworld) until the learner gets into the full-fledged model. Preferably by programming the model itself.
It's sad that this idea never caught much traction beyond educating children.