Digital Tools to Enable Collaborative Mathematical Modeling Online

Abstract

To enable collaborative modeling activities online digital tools are essential. In this paper we present a holistic and adaptable concept for the development and implementation of modeling activities – which could especially be fruitful in times of homeschooling and distance learning. The concept is based on two digital tools: Jupyter Notebooks and a communication platform with video conferences.We carried out this concept in the context of two types of modeling activities: guided modeling days, where the students work on previously prepared and didactically developed digital learning material, and modeling weeks, in which the students work on open problems from research and industry very freely. In this paper the usage of Jupyter Notebook in modeling activities is presented and illustrated with the example of the optimization of a solar power plant. On top, we share our experiences in online modeling activities with high-school students in Germany.

Keywords

• digital tools
• mathematical modeling
• collaborative learning online