This module introduces basic concepts in modeling complex adaptive systems through hands-on activities and participatory simulations.  A scaffolded series of highly-engaging design and build activities guides students through developing their first computer model in StarLogo Nova, a modeling and simulation environment developed by the Scheller Teacher Education Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Students practice designing and running experiments using computer models as experimental test beds.

• Read summaries of the upcoming lessons
• Upload resources to your portfolio (See instructions below.)
• Suggested work flow
  

Lesson 1: Introduction to Complex Adaptive Systems and Computer Modeling and Simulation

In this lesson students will participate in two activities.  The first activity is a participatory simulation called "Turn & Walk." After playing the "game" based on simple rules, students will see a computer model based on the same activity. Of particular interst is the comparison between real and virtual worlds and the consideration of how a computer model might help us understand a phenomenon in the real world. Students will be exposed to the characteristics of complex adaptive systems: many agents, simple rules, emergent patterns ,and "adaptivity" to change. In the second activity, students will get an overview of the parts of a computer model.

Lesson 2: Introduction to StarLogo Nova and Painting Turtles

In this lesson students will participate in two activities.  The first activity is a guided introduction to the StarLogo Nova simulation environment.  In the second activity, students will learn a few simple commands and then create their first computer program.   Students will progress from single turtle explorations to instructing many turtles to follow their commands in parallel.

Lesson 3: Conditional Branching with Trailblazers and Bumper Turtles

In this lesson students will participate in two activities.  In the first they will learn about conditional branching, logic, and Boolean expressions as they guide an agent through a puzzle.  They also consider the best path /solution and the universality of their solution (or not).   In the second activity, students will learn a few simple commands and then convert their Painting Turtles program into a Bumper Turtles program in which agents respond to their environment. 

Lesson 4: Probability with Dice and Data, Wiggle Walk and Colliding Turtles

In this lesson students will participate in two activities.  In the first activity, students will learn about probability, how it is implemented in StarLogo Nova, and use probability to implement chance behavior in agent movement.  In the second activity, students will remix their bumper turtles project into a colliding turtles project in which turtles react to other turtles upon collision.  The wrap up discussion covers what probability is used for in computer modeling and simulation. 

Lesson 5: Modeling the Spread of Disease

In this lesson students will convert their Colliding Turtles model into a simple Epidemic model by adding slider widgets and recovery.  The Contagion model represents a very simplified version of an epidemic or spread of a disease.  Two variables will be created: transmission rate and recovery rate.  Students will later use this model to run experiments to determine if disease will spread throughout a virtual population in different scenarios.

Assignment: 

Click on these two resources and upload them to your portfolio.

1) StarLogo Nova Blocks Guide

2) CS Concepts Guide

• When the file is visible, click on “Open” to save and open a copy of the document to your Google drive.
  
• Open your portfolio on Google Sites (http://sites.google.com) then go to the "Reflections->CS Concepts" page of your portfolio.
  
• Click on the pencil icon at the upper right to open the page for editing.
  
• Once in editing mode, click on the page where you would like to add the document then go to “Insert->Google Drive->Document”
  
• Select your document then click “OK”
  
• Finally, hit “Save” to see your document embedded in your portfolio.
  
• NOW you should see your document embedded into your portfolio. If you would like to continue to edit this document, click at the bottom left of the page where there is a link to open the document. Any changes made to the document will be reflected in your portfolio page.
  
• These documents are now yours to customize and add to.  We'll refer to them throughout the course.
  

Suggested work flow:
We suggest working with three tabs open in your browser:

• One for this course,
• One for StarLogo Nova, and
• One for your Google Sites portfolio

You will be flipping between them as you progress through the course.