Prototyping a Touch-Optimized Modeling Tool for Co-located and Inverted Classroom Group Modeling Scenarios

To support the mastery of necessary skills and knowledge for modeling, manifold approaches and concepts are present. Ranging from theoretical backgrounds, over video tutorials to coached pieces of training and seminars. But the learning from collaborative group work has proven benefits, especially in modeling tasks. During our experiments with touch-based portable projectors in our higher education software engineering courses, we explored and iteratively improved concepts and exercises for collaborative group work. Encountering many grievances with the used software modeling tools we identified the need for a special concept and tool to not only support group modeling itself but also our research and evaluation efforts. In this paper, we will describe the profits of collaborative modeling and present our concept. Afterward, we will present the first prototype we implemented that focuses on automatically placed elements and a minimalistic interaction scheme tailored but not limited to the use with touch projectors. Finally, we will describe our plans for further development and related research.