There is a need for software that supports learners in actively dealing with theoretical concepts by having them create models and perform concept prediction and explanation.
DynaLearn seeks to address this by developing a domain independent Interactive Learning Environment (ILE) based on Qualitative Reasoning (QR). The QR vocabulary fits the nature of conceptual knowledge, and the explicit representation of these notions in the software provides the handles to support an automated communicative interaction that actually discusses and provides feedback at the conceptual level.
Liem, J., Bredeweg, B., Linnebank, F., Bühling, R., Wißner, M., Río, J., Beek, W., & Gόmez Perez, A. (2010). Acquiring Conceptual Knowledge about How Systems Behave. In Intelligent Tutoring Systems (pp. 448-448). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.