Abstract:We describe our experience teaching an overview course on urban modeling for graduate students at the University of California, Davis. It was decided at the outset that we would let the students run actual calibrated models in this class. This may be the first course where students were exposed to GIS models, as well as to spatial competition (economic) models. We conclude that the active learning format was successful in getting the students to understand the purposes of the various types of models and their limitations.