4. Evaluating the Model

Sugat Dabholkar, Philip Woods, Connor Bain, Golnaz Arastoopour Irgens, Kevin Hall
Biology, Self-directed
45-50 min
Introductory High School Biology
v3
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Overview

In previous lessons in this unit, students have built up a model of a simple ecosystem based mainly on their intuitions about how individual animals would behave.  In this lesson they will use this model in several ways.  First, they will look at how that model is able to produce interesting patterns at the population level, even though this was not an intentional part of the process of building the model.  Second, they will think about what it means for a model to be good, and see how they can evaluate their model by comparing its results to real data from Isle Royale.

Underlying Pages

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards
  •   Life Science
    • [HS-LS2] Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
    • [HS-LS4] Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
  •   NGSS Crosscutting Concept
    • Patterns
    • Systems
    • Stability and Change
  •   NGSS Practice
    • Analyzing Data
    • Using Models
    • Conducting Investigations
Computational Thinking in STEM
  •   Data Practices
    • Analyzing Data
    • Manipulating Data
    • Visualizing Data
  •   Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • Using Computational Models to Find and Test Solutions
    • Using Computational Models to Understand a Concept
  •   Computational Problem Solving Practices
    • Troubleshooting and Debugging
  •   Systems Thinking Practices
    • Investigating a Complex System as a Whole
    • Thinking in Levels
    • Understanding the Relationships within a System
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