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Biology+C – Genetics: Phenotypes and Genotypes

This unit focuses on genetics and how the allele frequency in a population can change over time.

Biology+C – Natural Selection and Evolution: Natural Selection in Moths

This unit reviews concepts related to natural selection and Darwin’s theory of evolution. It provides students with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the process of natural selection and how it can be represented and demonstrated using computer models.

Biology+C – Simple Ecosystems: Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

This unit models a simple ecosystem to provide students with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions of organisms in ecosystems such as the flow of energy between trophic levels.

Biology+C – Homeostasis: Maintaining Glucose Levels in Blood

This unit reviews concepts related to feedback loops for maintaining homeostasis in the human
body.

Biology+C – Enzymes: Food Digestion

The unit provides students with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of process and how they can be represented and demonstrated using computer models.

Biology+C – Ecosystem Dynamics: Balancing an Ecosystem

In this unit, students will apply concepts related to ecosystems, such as interdependent relationships, to run various experiments in the NetLogo model.

Science+C Intro Unit: Epidemics

This unit introduces students to using models as scientific testbeds, the NetLogo interface, and the basics of the model code by exploring how disease spreads through a population.

Biology+C – Experimenting with Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is a dynamic process through which plants turn carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates such as glucose while releasing oxygen as a byproduct.

Interview with Hal Scheintaub

Teachers with GUTS interviewed Hal Scheintaub and demo of StarLogo Nova models created by his students on August 2, 2017.

Ecosistemas como sistemas complejos

Documento que presenta las bases para abordar los ecosistemas como sistemas complejos adaptativos.

Papeles en el viento ("Papercatchers")

"Papeles en el viento" (Papercatchers) es una simulación participativa en la que los estudiantes aprenden sobre el crecimiento de la población y los límites al crecimiento. Los estudiantes desempeñan el papel de miembros de una población creciente, siguen reglas sencillas que rigen la supervivencia y la reproducción, y recopilan y grafican datos.

Modeling MRSA in Chicago (scientist talk)

This is a talk Dr. Chick Macal gave to GUTS teachers at a Chicago PD workshop in 2015.

Ecosystems as Complex Adaptive Systems

Background information on ecosystems for teachers' use in CS in Science, Module 3 (Ecosystems)

Preparing STEM Teachers to offer Computer Science for All (2017)

ACM SIGCSE 2017

Scientific Practices and Computational Thinking in Modeling & Simulation

This document is a handout used to reflect on the scientific practices and computational thinking involved in a Project GUTS module or lesson.

Papercatchers

Papercatchers is a participatory simulation in which students learn about population growth and limits to growth. Students play the role of members of a growing population, follow simple rules governing survival and reproduction, and collect and graph data.

What's Represented?

These exercises ask the learner to identify abstractions in the computer model as compared to a diagram or image of a natural phenomenon.

NGSS Standards

Document highlighting the conceptual shifts in the Next Generation Science Standards

Developing and Using Models - NGSS Science and Engineering Practices

A K-12 progression of the NGSS Science and Engineering Practice of Developing and Using Models.

Performance Expectations that make use of this Science and Engineering Practice - https://ngss.nsta.org/Practices.aspx?id=2

Toss-Up

As a virus spreads through a community, epidemiologists might study how far a disease has spread, how quickly it spreads and how infectious it can be as well a numerous other pieces of data in order to understand the disease and its potential impact on a community. In this activity, students will simulate the spread of a virus such as the flu. Students will work in pairs to accumulate data using graph paper, a data chart, and a die. Before starting, groups will need to decide on three variables.