Physician, Heal Thyself! The Prospects for Using ABM to Target Interventions to Raise ABM Engagement

This paper presents a preliminary “structural” model of a simplified educational system. This model is used to analyse different strategies for enhancing the engagement with ABM in the education system. Another novel feature of the model is that it considers both formal and informal channels of education (e.g. not just classroom teaching but also blogs). Subject to its assumptions, the ABM supports a pre-existing view that uptake may be enhanced by making teaching available earlier in the education process. Analysis also suggests that a combination of formal and informal learning may be more effect than the simple addition of each effect. The paper also considers the promotional and intellectual benefits of modelling educational systems.