Chapter 6 - Supporting Mental Model Construction

Summary

Mental models are the internal representations that guide interactions with the world. Mental models are experience based and they inform an individual’s understanding of what is going on, how things work, and how a situation is likely to evolve. This chapter provides two principles for supporting the development of robust mental models in trainees. The Mental Model Articulation Principle emphasizes building training experiences that encourage learners to verbalize aspects of their mental models to identify flaws and gaps. The Many Variations Principle highlights the value of providing learners with a range of experiences with the intent of expanding their mental models to support performance in diverse conditions.