A new kind of science A new kind of science EducationEducation

Lessons Learned from StarLogo and Lessons Learned from StarLogo and Perspectives on NKSPerspectives on NKS

Bakhtiar Mikhak – MIT Media LabBakhtiar Mikhak – MIT Media Lab Brian Silverman – MIT Media LabBrian Silverman – MIT Media Lab Eric Klopfer – MIT Teacher EducationEric Klopfer – MIT Teacher Education Hal Scheintaub – Governor Dummer AcademyHal Scheintaub – Governor Dummer Academy

A new kind of science A new kind of science Education Education Adventures in Adventures in

ModelingModeling

Eric Klopfer (Eric Klopfer (klopfer@mit.eduklopfer@mit.edu))

MIT Teacher Education ProgramMIT Teacher Education Program

Hal Scheintaub (Hal Scheintaub (hscheintaub@gda.orghscheintaub@gda.org) )

Governor Dummer AcademyGovernor Dummer Academy

Platforms for Simulating Platforms for Simulating Complex SystemsComplex Systems

StarLogoStarLogo Users create Users create

simulations by writing simulations by writing simple rules for simple rules for individual “creatures” individual “creatures”

No sophisticated No sophisticated mathematics or mathematics or programming requiredprogramming required

Opportunity to explore Opportunity to explore emergent and complex emergent and complex systemssystems

…ultimately the key to a real understanding is to experience ideas for oneself.

StarLogo ParadigmStarLogo Paradigm

Observer (controls world)Observer (controls world) Turtles (animate agents)Turtles (animate agents) Patches (inanimate agents)Patches (inanimate agents)

http://education.mit.edu/starlogo

StarLogo HistoryStarLogo History

Originally created by Mitchel Resnick Originally created by Mitchel Resnick @ MIT Media Lab on parallel @ MIT Media Lab on parallel Connection MachineConnection Machine

Port to PC Requires “Pseudo-Parallel” Port to PC Requires “Pseudo-Parallel” ImplementationImplementation Brought to Macintosh 1990’sBrought to Macintosh 1990’s Brought to Java about 1999Brought to Java about 1999 Continued development at MIT to make Continued development at MIT to make

modeling accessible to more studentsmodeling accessible to more students

ExampleExample

PondPond Frogs and Toads Happy when % similar

around Move when unhappy

More ExamplesMore Examples TrafficTraffic Chemical ReactionsChemical Reactions Spread of DiseasesSpread of Diseases FlockingFlocking CooperationCooperation EcologyEcology

Learning About Complex Learning About Complex SystemsSystems

Collaboration between MIT Collaboration between MIT and the Santa Fe Instituteand the Santa Fe Institute

Learning by creatingLearning by creating Input from research Input from research

communitycommunity For teachers and/or For teachers and/or

studentsstudents

On ComputersOn Computers

ChallengesChallenges Problem statements Problem statements

encourage exploration of encourage exploration of model designmodel design

Examples minimize direct Examples minimize direct instructioninstruction

Open-ended nature embraces Open-ended nature embraces a wide variety of solutionsa wide variety of solutions

Model Classification*Model Classification*

Idea ModelsIdea Models e.g. Model of Predator and Preye.g. Model of Predator and Prey

Minimal Models for SystemsMinimal Models for Systems e.g. Model of Wolves and Cariboue.g. Model of Wolves and Caribou

Systems ModelsSystems Models e.g. Model of every Wolf and e.g. Model of every Wolf and

Caribou in 5 square mile section Caribou in 5 square mile section of Yellowstoneof Yellowstone

*This classification scheme was proposed by J. Roughgarden.

Increasing complexity and detail

Decreasing generality and applicability

PinupsPinups

OfflineOffline OnlineOnline

Off Computer ActivitiesOff Computer Activities

Participatory SimulationsParticipatory Simulations Engage learners in Engage learners in

computer mediated computer mediated simulationssimulations

Provide rich learning Provide rich learning experiences where experiences where technology and social technology and social interaction are keyinteraction are key

Use relatively simple and Use relatively simple and cheap technologies cheap technologies (Palms<$100) and IR (Palms<$100) and IR peer to peer peer to peer communicationcommunication

Learning about…Learning about…

Complex SystemsComplex Systems

Learning about…Learning about…

Simulations and the Scientific MethodSimulations and the Scientific Method

Learning about…Learning about… Content (e.g. Content (e.g.

speciation, speciation, crystallization, crystallization, osmosis) created by osmosis) created by teachersteachers

Learning about…Learning about… Design, Technology, and Programming Design, Technology, and Programming

AIS

Next GenerationNext Generation

Where is this Used?Where is this Used?

Middle School -> Grad SchoolMiddle School -> Grad School Preservice and Inservice Teacher TrainingPreservice and Inservice Teacher Training New England, New Mexico, Mexico…New England, New Mexico, Mexico… Single Labs -> Whole CoursesSingle Labs -> Whole Courses

More InformationMore Information

http://education.mit.eduhttp://education.mit.edu http://education.mit.edu/starlogohttp://education.mit.edu/starlogo http://education.mit.edu/starlogo/adventurehttp://education.mit.edu/starlogo/adventure

ss http://education.mit.edu/ddahttp://education.mit.edu/dda http://education.mit.edu/tephttp://education.mit.edu/tep