Model Based Teaching and Learning

What kinds of models are mentioned in the article and what is their role in learning?

The article distiguishes between mental models and hypermodels.  Mental models can be either learner's mental model or the scientist's or designer's mental models of a phenomena. Mental models are internal models. Hypermodels are computer models that are part of an interactive curriculum and therefore external models. The learner however uses these external i.e. hypermodels to change and modify the own internal or mental model.
Mental models are revised and modified continously during the learning process. Mental models can be constructed even before the actual learning process has started with the learner forming some idea as a mental model of the phenomena or topics to be learned,