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Complex Adaptive Systems Background Resources

The attached files can provide teachers and students with some simple background explanations of complex adaptive systems and feedback loops.

Chart showing decline in computer science graduates

Computer Science Advocacy Power Point

A slide presentation created by Hadi Partovi, founder of Code.org, on the importance of Computer Science teaching in schools.

Lightbot and StarLogo NOVA

This on-line activity asks students to complete the first 8 exercises of the popular "Lightbot" program within the Hour of Code activities. Then, students try to recreate a similar program in StarLogo Nova, where an unfamiliar user could use keyboard controls, widgets, or procedures to get the robot to follow a pattern. It practices several computing skills (procedures, loops) and conveys the idea that games students see and play on-line have been created and coded by someone.

Screen shot of StarLogo TNG model of Swords & Shields

Swords and Shields

Swords and Shields is an interactive simulation game which teaches students some of the basic ideas of complex adaptive systems. After playing, you can show the students a model of the game in StarLogo TNG or StarLogo Nova to discuss basic concepts of agent-based modeling. Try it, it's fun! See also the variation to this activity in Resources, and see the related activity of TryAngles.

Rock Paper Scissors

The classic game of Rock Paper Scissors is known to all students. This common experience can then be used to encourage students to think about Complex Adaptive Systems in terms of unpredictability, which comes from the simple rules of agents. The off-line activity gives students a set of rules that will then be programmed into their computer model using Boolean logic and collisions.

Use-modify-create diagram from k12cs.org

Computational Thinking Resources

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

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.

Pioneros (Trailblazers)

Pioneros (Trailblazers) es una actividad divertida con lápiz y papel donde los estudiantes escriben instrucciones sencillas para que otro estudiante navegue por un laberinto. Las instrucciones se dibujan en el laberinto como comandos (si el cuadrado es rojo, gire a la derecha, etc.) y luego los estudiantes intercambian papeles para navegar por el laberinto siguiendo solamente los comandos. Esta es una actividad preliminar para la actividad de codificación de las tortugas chocadoras.

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.

Code.org and SLNova Computer Science Concepts

This is a 4 week unit for a Computer Technology class in a middle school. Students are introduced to computer science concepts through lessons in Code.org's Course 3. Students then apply those concepts in SLNova projects.

Project GUTS teacher & facilitator guides

These guides are aimed at helping teachers or workshop facilitators help their students or participants be independent learners while working with computer models. They are a work in progress - final versions will be uploaded soon. Please feel free to point out any corrections or additions in a discussion thread -- Thanks!

Feedback loops

This document provides background information on feedback loops in complex adaptive systems.

Guía de referencia de bloques de StarLogo NOVA

Se trata de una guía que describe los bloques de comandos más comunes utilizados en StarLogo NOVA en el curso MOOC de Project GUTS en español. Están agrupados según el módulo en que se utilizan.

Computational Science video

A short video (1:27) on the computational science cycle, used in Project GUTS CS in Science (Modules 2-4).

Teaching Computer Science and Creating Independent Learners

A video (7:54) for teachers and facilitators with helpful techniques on facilitating design-and-build activities in ways then encourage students to become self-sufficient problem solvers.

Getting Unstuck: Karen Brennan's "8 for 8"

This 8:13 minute video gives techniques for facilitating classrooms of students who are working on projects.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utb1plCyyb0

Exploring the Wiggle Walk and Collisions via a Kinesthetic Activity

This activity teaches the Wiggle Walk blocks (random right by ___ degrees, random left by___ degrees), through a kinesthetic activity and explores when a programmer would want to code agents to move this way. It avoids the statical analysis of the random probabilities found in Module One, Lesson 4 Activity 1: Probability with Dice and Data and Colliding Turtles, while still addressing the end goals of the Module One Lesson 4.

Cellular screen capture showing ant simulation on a honey trap

Block-based agent-based modeling tool based on Scratch

Cellular is an agent-based modeling tool that uses a Scratch-like interface and allows teachers and students to create models and simulations in a very easy way. This makes this tool suitable to introduce ABM into the Primary level but also in Middle & High School taking advantage of previous students experience with Scratch. Cellular is based on Snap wich it's also based on Scratch. And you can also work off-line!!

Teaching Equity Resources

Here are links to the resources used in CS in Science workshops to discuss equity in computer science.

Students and screenshots of model from Project GUTS webpage collage

Science of Friendship

Why do humans help some people and not others? This Project GUTS unit explores this question and allows students to test their own assumptions. Using methods and data from anthropology, sociology and psychology and computer modeling in NetLogo, students investigate the role of cooperation in human interactions—and how cooperation plays a role in global issues such as resource management, health equity and climate change.

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