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MSM Unit 1: Things Break Apart

This is the page for Making Sense of Models Unit 1: Things Break Apart.

CS in Science Curriculum (binder) compatible with StarLogo Nova 2.0

This is the pdf of the complete CS in Science curriculum. Print copies can be ordered from Mimeo.

Shared Resources for StarLogo Nova

As the human population grows, it has become increasingly important to understand how humans are impacting the environment and to consider what resources we are using and how we are managing or not managing them for the future. In this unit we will be looking at a variety of different types of resources that are important to our area. Although the resources are different, they are interdependent, and way the humans manage these assets can be looked at in a similar fashion. 

Sustainability for StarLogo Nova

In this unit students will learn about issues relating to becoming a sustainable community, including recycling materials and turning waste into energy. Important concepts include: feedback loops in systems and ideas relating to cooperation in society.

Middle school students will learn about sustainability concepts using videos and activities to map their community. Their computer models can build off of either of two base models: consumerism or wastewater.

Archived Material: CS in Science Module 2: Water as a Shared Resource (for StarLogo Nova 1.0)

Archived material for CS in Science: Module 2 for StarLogo Nova 1.0 (flash version, updated in 2015). In this module, students will investigate the importance of ground water and the impacts of water usage on aquifer levels. They will also explore how to model important parts of the water cycle, including evaporation and infiltration of water into different types of soils to recharge the aquifers.

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).

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.

Daisy world

A model demonstrating the albedo effect of black or white surfaces. Use as a part of the Climate Change and Agriculture Project GUTS Curricular Unit, or as a stand-alone model, activity, and video.

Introducción al modelado del clima

Documento base como introducción al modelado del clima. Habla sobre el sistema climático global como un sistema dinámico complejo; la diferencia entre tiempo y clima; los ciclos de retroalimentación en el sistema climático global, etc.
Fue extraído de “Mathematics of Climate Change: A new discipline for an uncertain century” una publicación del Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Matemáticas. Berkeley, CA 2007 y traducido al español.

Code Blocks for CS in Science Module 2 (Water Resources)

This blocks guide can help students decode the base model used in Module 2 -- Water Resources. The links below correspond to either StarLogo Nova 1.0 (Flash version) or StarLogo Nova 2.0 (HTML5/JavaScript version).

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.

Code Blocks for CS in Science Module 5 (Greenhouse Gases)

A guide for students when decoding the Greenhouse Gases model for CS in Science (Module 5). The links below correspond to this model as created in StarLogo Nova 1.0 (Flash version) or StarLogo Nova 2.0 (HTML5/JavaScript version).

CS in Science Module 2: Water Resources slide presentation

These slide presentations are for CS in Science Module 2: Water Resources. Please be sure to use the relevant link below, for either StarLogo Nova 1.0 (flash version) or StarLogo Nova 2.0. Also, note there is a different presentation for CS in Science Module 2: Climate Change. Teachers can download and modify these slides for classroom use.

CS in Science Module 2: Shared Water Resources (StarLogo Nova 2.0)

In this Earth Science module, students will investigate the importance of ground water and the impacts of water usage on aquifer levels. They will also explore how to model important parts of the water cycle, including evaporation and infiltration of water into different types of soils to recharge the aquifers. This updated resource corresponds to StarLogo Nova 2.0 (HTML5/JavaScript version), a modeling and simulation environment developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

StarLogo Nova 2.0 galleries for CS in Science modules

These links create a shortcut to find the StarLogo Nova 2.0 gallery for each module in CS in Science. For StarLogo Nova 1.0 galleries, go to flash.starlogonova.org.

Progress Monitors for CS in Science Modules (coding activities)

Progress Monitors are meant to be guides for students, giving goals for the model but not providing specific coding instructions.

CS in Science Module 5: Greenhouse Gases

This Earth Science module explores greenhouse gases and climate change. The global climate system is presented as a complex system with feedback loops and interconnected processes. The goal is to clarify what is known, what scientists believe is happening and how climate change impacts our environment and species. Students use, modify, and customize an agent-based model of the build-up of greenhouse gases and its impact on the climate. This is an alternative to the Module 2: Water Resources

My Robotic Friends (cups activity)

This is the cups activity by Thinkersmith (later part of Code.org)

Opinion Dynamics for StarLogo Nova

This unit explores Opinion Dynamics as an aspect of human society that can be studied as a complex adaptive system. In modeling opinion formation and dynamics, agents representing humans can influence and be influenced by other agents locally through one-on-one interactions. It could be modified to model global influences (like media).