How to use models?

[eluser]zoran119[/eluser]
hi all,

i was hoping someone can tell me what is the correct way to use models.

i have a model called 'application' extending the ci model class, but i just have a bunch of functions there which get used in the controller called 'application'. this model does not have any private variables. for example, there is a function update_status($application_id, $new_status_id) which i call from the controller like this

Code:

$this->load->model('application');
$this->application->update_status($application_id_to_update, $new_status_id);

i'm thinking that this is not the way to do things. should the model be used as a proper class, with properties and methods? so for the example above, should the application model have a private property called status_id and then implement a method called set_status_id($new_status_id) to set the private property and another method called save() which would save the change to the database?

i'm thinking it should be done the second way, just not sure. anyone got an opinion?