Abstract
Today's innovation processes are interdisciplinary and require communication between stakeholders from different domains. The compatibility of mental models, which determine how individuals think about technical problems, decides the success of this communication. Previous research indicates that mechanical engineering students prefer procedural over structural approaches. However, structured research into the source of this preference is rare. This paper presents a study (n = 67) that investigates the mental models of mechanical engineering students of technical systems. Results indicate that mental models may depend on the presentation of a problem. A questionnaire yielded a preference for a procedural approach, while questions prompting verbal information instead yield a structural preference. Show more
Publication status
publishedExternal links
Book title
2019 18th International Conference on Information Technology Based Higher Education and Training (ITHET)Pages / Article No.
Publisher
IEEEEvent
Subject
Engineering education; Mental models; Interdisciplinary collaboration; Programming paradigmsOrganisational unit
09751 - Hofer, Sarah Isabelle (ehemalig) / Hofer, Sarah Isabelle (former)
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ETH Bibliography
no
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