Please write an overall reflection on how you would teach this lesson and this module in your class, and post your reflection here. Also, please read comments by other MOOC participants in at least two of the previous Teaching Module 1 discussions, and add to the discussion with your own thoughts.
Comments
I would start this lesson with a recap of major topics discussed within the lessons that have been completed. I would highlight the scientific method, remind students to save their code often, and show them the important blocks to be used in the experiment. I would provide the students with a research problem that a model must be constructed to provide data, so a conclusion can be generated. I would have the students fill out the experimental design form and remind them of information vital to completing the form. Next, the class would develop the agents and the characteristics of the agents; this helps in creating the code for each type of agent. Lastly, I would allow the students to develop their data collection tool to analyze their results.
In reflecting on this module, I would probably need to double the time that is suggested for each lesson. I teach students on an A/B schedule, so I will see the sames students every other day. This situation makes completing this module take a little longer. I would have to work on creating resources, like cheat sheets, that students could readily use to refresh their memory without needing to provide direct instruction. I see completing this module before we get into STEM fair preparation to give the students an idea of what a good experiment would look like and how to effectively analyze data from the experiment.
I would like to use this as an opportunity to prime my students for their upcoming science fair project by emphasizing the parts of the scientific method when creating a model, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.
This section of the project is very open-ended, but most lends itself for the scholars to experiment with factors related to epidemiology and the spread of disease.
I like that Kevin is also using this project to prepare his students for their STEM fair projects. I think that this is a great way to show students that there is more than one way to run an experiment and I'm curious if any students will want to use a computer model as their science fair experiment.
I love the idea of using this module to aid students in their development and even the completion of their science fair projects. I think this will increase the possibilities immensely. We even have our example that we created to show them.
I like that the program is available online, rather than as a program being installed on a computer, so all students can have access to it and practice as they desire. I'm excited to see what my students will be able to do with this program once they learn the basics. I'm sure they can get pretty creative and curious to start exploring the world more scientifically.