1. A method for automatically measuring effort in working on a model, the method comprising: providing a graphical modeling application using a computing device; identifying an activity for which a user wishes to measure effort, the activity comprising designing or modifying at least one of a block, a subsystem, and said model using said modeling application; measuring, using the computing device, a time period for the user to complete the activity; automatically gathering, using the computing device, data related to usage of an input device related to the activity; storing the data related to the usage of the input device in a storage device; and determining, using the computing device, the effort in working on the model based on the time period and the data.