Post-course assessment

This assessment will only be used to evaluate the impact of our course. It will not be used for a grade.

1 point

Complex adaptive systems can be described as which of the following?

mechanical like clockwork

complicated

predictable

none of the above
1 point

Which of the following is the best example of what scientists call a complex adaptive system?

a clock

an ant colony

a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer

a map of highways in the United States
1 point

Which of the following can be used as input when running a simulation?

slider values

different breeds

graphs and databoxes

all of the above
1 point

What does it mean when running a computer model produces different results each time it is run?

there must be a bug (error) in the code

the computer is likely to be broken

there must be a random function in the code

the model has no scientific value
1 point

What needs to be done in order to run a procedure in a computer program?

the procedure must be written

the procedure needs to be called

nothing, the procedure is automatically run once you create it

the procedure needs to be moved below the setup procedure
1 point

Prior to running a simulation using an agent-based model, which one of the following must take place?

shutting down other open applications

initialization of global variables

saving data from previous runs of the simulation

instantiation or creation of agents and environment
1 point

A computer program consists of ___ that tells the computer to do something.

reactions

animations

goals

instructions
1 point

What enables an agent to react to its environment?

pen down

communication with other agents

conditional statements

vision
1 point

In a computer program, an if/then statement is used to ____.

repeat code in more than one place

stop the program

speed up the program

select an action based on a condition
1 point

In a computer program, a repeat statement is used ____.

to jump around in code

to perform simultaneous tasks

to store information

to repeat a set of instructions
1 point

In a computer program, a variable (or slider) is used ____.

to stop the program

to perform a calculation

to store a value

to respond to a button press
1 point

What role was proposed for a teacher incorporating models and simulations into the classroom?

learning coach or guide

engaging lecturer

expert in a computer language

all of the above
1 point

What is computational science good for?

it speeds up the process of discovery

it replaces traditional science labs

it complements lab and theoretical science

nothing at all
1 point

What types of systems are agent-based models best suited to model?

complicated mechanical systems

systems of mathematical equations

complex adaptive systems

all of the above
1 point

Computational Thinking is:

a way of communicating with a computer

a human thought process

a process that computers use to think

a subfield of computer science
1 point

Computer modeling is used to study problems that are:

too dangerous to study in the real world

too time consuming to study in the real world

too expensive to study in the real world

all of the above