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Skill building lawnmower spiral

Skill Building Deck

Posted June 12, 2019 by ilee

A slide deck of exercises to build CS and decoding skills

Screen shot from Stanford website

Crash Course on Design Thinking

Posted April 3, 2017 by turtle

A 90-minute "virtual crash course" on Design Thinking, by Stanford University. A resource for teachers. "Using the video, handouts, and facilitation tips below, we will take you step by step through the process of hosting or participating in a 90 minute design challenge. Through this experience we hope you will take away some of the basic principles of Design Thinking and start to adapt them into your personal and professional routines"

Sample rubric screen shot

Rubric ideas for assessing computer models

Posted April 5, 2017 by turtle

In December 2015, Code.org teachers were asked for their ideas on 4 important criteria to include in any rubric used to assess computer models. Here are their ideas, in a forum discussion.

Screen shot of code from completed model

Alternative Intro to StarLogo Nova - Modeling Change Lesson 1

Posted July 3, 2017 by sgibbs

The first part of the Modeling Change Unit can be used as a fun stand-alone programming activity for students unfamiliar with StarLogo Nova. It guides students to build a model that use keyboard controls to change the two-dimensional location of agents (in section 1a) and change other traits including the third dimension (z), shape, color, and heading (in section 1b).

Screen shot from model showing projectile motion

Modeling Change

Posted July 3, 2017 by sgibbs

This contributed curriculum physics unit introduces and builds models to explore concepts of independent and dependent change, constant and variable x and y change, gravity, and projectile motion. Each lesson contains detailed instructions on how to build each model, and links to base models and completed projects. Modeling Change Lesson 1 is also uploaded as an independent resource (since it can serve as an alternative introduction to StarLogo Nova).

Screenshot of an activity sheet

What's Represented?

Posted June 12, 2019 by ilee

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

prisoner's dilemma score box by https://www.open.lib.umn.edu

Prisoner's Dilemma (Tit for Tat)

Posted March 30, 2017 by turtle

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).

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