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Prisoner's Dilemma (Tit for Tat)

A participatory simulation where partners examine strategies of cooperation versus individual gain. Based on the game theory activity of Prisoner's Dilemma, this activity introduces students to the contrast between theories of "Tragedy of the Commons" (individuals maximizing their own gain will result in collapse of the resources) and classic economic theory (maximum individual gain will lead to greatest efficiency).

Computational Thinking

This video introduces computational thinking. It was produced by Project GUTS with Code.org.

27 Blind Mice

An off-line activity that introduces the concept of global and local communication strategies.

Penny Growth

Penny growth is a table-top hands-on activity in which students grow penny colonies based on simple rules. Through this activity and a corresponding computer model, students gain experience with modeling population growth, plotting data, and recognizing patterns. Different sized environments can be used to prompt a discussion of limits to growth fo the colonies.

Decoding a model

Decoding a model is an on computer activity in which students are challenged to decode a model.

Peanut Butter & Jelly Robot

This activity introduces students to several computer science concepts, to the necessity for thoroughness while programming, and to the often strange results of literalism. The overarching theme is that computers do what they are told and nothing more. The ability to read between the lines and determine what was meant rather than what was said is a skill computers lack. Additionally, students are introduced to the concept of debugging.

Introduction to Computational Science

This video was produced by Project GUTS and Code.org to introduce computational science.

Complex Adaptive Systems

This video was produced by Project GUTS and Code.org to introduce Complex Adaptive Systems.

Agent Based Modeling

This video was produced by Project GUTS and Code.org to introduce agent based modeling.

Teacher testimonial: Corinna Low

This video shows an interview of Corinna Low, a middle school science teacher from South San Francisco.

Battle of the Agents

A take on the classic board game Battleship, this paper and pencil activity is a fun way to help students understand the use of x and y coordinates in StarLogo Nova. After the activity, students can use the StarLogo Nova model to experiment with x and y locations in a game-like context.

Teacher encouragement

In this video, Corinna Low give teachers words of encouragement to try the Project GUTS CS in Science curriculum.

Models in the Classroom

In this video, GUTS teachers talk about using models within science classrooms.

Dispositions and Classroom Culture

In this video, GUTS teachers talk about instilling dispositions and classroom culture that supports scientific inquiry and the development of computational thinking.

Using Computer Models in Scientific Inquiry

In this video, a Project GUTS teacher explains how and why we use computer models in science classrooms.

Computational Thinking Resources

The attached documents can provide background information for teachers on Computational Thinking.

Project GUTS MOOC

Project GUTS presented the CS in Science curriculum modules in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). The links below will allow you access to the original MOOC site, to see not only the written curriculum but also screencasts of building the related StarLogo Nova models and other background information for teachers and facilitators. The MOOC was also translated in Spanish (see link below).

For the 2017 course, please go to guts-2017.appspot.com

Teaching Tip - How to organize and share student work

Tips on how to set up a folder so students can share their work in an online gallery of sorts.

Información sobre Sistemas Complejos Adaptativos

Tres documentos con información general acerca de Sistemas Complejos Adaptativos. Traducidos por @rizzicristian a partir de los originales en Inglés.

TryAngles

Students participate in an off-line activity called “TryAngles”, and see a computer model based on the same activity. Of particular interest is the interleaving of activity types; live off-line activities and computer simulations, and the juxtaposition of real and virtual worlds.