Preview - Intro To Learning With Computational Models For Educators

Computational Thinking in Science and Math

Intro to learning with Computational Models for Educators

This lesson gets you thinking about computer modeling and how you can use it for science and for learning. It also gives you some insight into NetLogo. 

This lesson specifically focuses on learning science with such computational models. These computational models are of emergent natural phenomena. Emergent phenomena are the ones in which simple interactions between autonomous agents and environment result into complex patterns, for example, a flock of birds. 

                    

In a flock of birds, each bird follows simple rules regarding alignment, coherence and separation with the neighboring birds, and this results in complex patterns of the flock, such as the V-shape formation. 

Learning Goals:

  • In this lesson, we will use a NetLogo model about wildfire to learn about how to computationally study the spread of wildfire.
  • We will learn how to engage in the scientific inquiry practices of constructing knowledge.
  • We will learn how to engage computational thinking practices. We will focus on four computational thinking practices, namely, data practices, modeling and simulation practices, computational problem solving practices, and systems thinking practices.