Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo [Paperback]

Vanessa Stevens Colella (Author), Eric Klopfer (Author), Mitchel Resnick (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0807740829 | ISBN-13: 978-0807740828 | Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Have you ever wondered how birds flock or forest fires spread? For thousands of years people - from DaVinci to Einstein - have created models to help them better understand patterns and processes in the world around them. Computers make it easier for novices to build and explore their own models - and learn new scientific ideas in the process. Adventures in Modeling introduces you and your students to designing, creating, and investigating models in StarLogo. Computer modeling, the use of computer programs to simulate complex, dynamic systems or events (like population growth or environmental conservation), is a powerful learning tool that is finding a rapidly growing audience among teachers in middle and high school science and mathematics classes, especially since the NCTM Standards 2000 advocates its use in the curriculum. This valuable resource: Provides educators with a rich and accessible introduction to the use of computer modeling in the classroom using the popular StarLogo computer programming language; Takes readers step-by-step through the process of using computer models to simulate complex relationships; Shows how and why computer modeling can lead to powerful and enduring learning outcomes for all students. Provides explicit links between various state and national math and science content standards and the use of computer models, to enable educators to see how this work may enhance standards-based instruction; As computer use gains in currency and value in the middle and high school classroom, Adventures in Modeling will give teachers and students a very effective way to build curiosity and boost learning outcomes in a standards-based curriculum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: Teachers College Press (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807740829
• ISBN-13: 978-0807740828
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #758,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide to modeling systems!, February 19, 2002

By 

Tricia Um (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo (Paperback)

This is a great book for anyone interested in modeling dynamic systems. The authors provide wonderful background theory as a basis for building computer simulations. The simple step-by-step instructions guide you through the process of creating your own simulations using StarLogo. This book is an interesting, easily understandable beginner's manual and comes with all the software you need. It's a great way to teach yourself or other people how to program a simulation. I love the turtles!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Turtles for all, March 27, 2006

By 

Ralph J. Polley "e^(iPi)+1=0" (Houston) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo (Paperback)

This book is a great guide to taking the somewhat difficult ideas explored in Mitchel Resnick's book "Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams" and implementing them with students. Adventures in modeling can be used alone but, for any teacher who wants to use this book in a computer class, it is helpful to read the other book first. The activities and challenges here are reasonable for students from college down though middle school. I know of one teacher who has even successfully used these activites with pre-teens.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Intro to Topic...but Doesn't Extend Well to NetLogo, April 1, 2010

By 

A. KEITH "space man" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo (Paperback)

I am intigued with and have been trying to explore 'emergent behavior' for several months. I am especially enjoying trying to learn and explore with NetLogo. It is the upgraded and much more capable big brother to StarLogo (which this book is about). The main proble that I'm having is that are no printed books that either provide a good reference to the NetLogo lanuage nor any good printed tutorials. I find the electronic versions good but too hard to use...especially while trying to program in NetLogo on the computer.

So I was thinking that this beek looked like a pretty good tutorial on applying StarLogo and, after all, StarLogo is the little brother to NetLogo...so I decided to give it a try. The organization and approach to developing skills with StarLogo are superb and I've enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, NetLogo is such an advancement over StarLogo that the StarLogo examples and exercises do not translate well (or at all) to NetLogo. So, in that regard, it was a bust for me.

But if you use (or are interested in getting and using StarLogo) then I highly recommend this book. However, if you're interested in NetLogo,I think you'll likely be disappointed.