Choose a project in NetLogo. From File menu, choose “Models Library” and open several of the simulations to see what looks interesting.

Choose a simulation that has numerical output. Some of the models only produce graphical results, so do not choose one of them.

Click on the Info Tab to read about the simulation.

Click on the code tab to peek at the Logo code.

Your Project:

Learn what your model does and how it works.

Try all sorts of different settings with your model and observe the results you get.

Report your conclusions in a presentation to the class.

Your presentation should include the following:

• Description of the model: the purpose of it, how it works, what it does, etc.
• Your conclusions about the behavior of the model.
  • Example: when I increase variable ABC, the model produces less of XYZ.
  • Example: variable DEF doesn’t seem to affect the outcome very much
  • Example: when I increase LMN a bit, that makes OPQ go up, but when I increase LMN more it actually goes down again
• You need to be knowledgeable about the effects of ALL input variables. That means you have some work to do on the model to try many little experiments and observe what happens.
• What interesting or surprising results does your model produce?
• In what ways is your model unrealistic?
• How might a programming add more complexity to this model to make it more realistic?

Tips:

Do: keep records of the settings you tried and the results you got.
Do: have fun
Do: ask questions like “What would happen if… “ and “Why did xyz happen?” and so on.
Do: experiment with every possible setting for your model
Do: pay attention to all of the outputs your simulation can produce

Don’t: aimlessly play with the simulation without getting the project work done.

Record of your data

Create a data collection by working with the simulation. Record settings (inputs) and outputs (results from the simulation).

Make charts or graphs of your data to help explain the behavior of the model.

You will turn in your data record as part of the project.

Presentation Slides

• What is your simulation and what does it do?
  • Explain the model of this simulation
  • Explain how the individual agents work
  • Explain the “rules” and algorithms that the simulation and its agents follow

• How does your simulation behave?
  • When you change each variable, how do the simulation results change?
  • Show some data to back up your explanations and claims.

• What knowledge have you created from using the simulation?
  • What claims or predictions can you now make about this topic (traffic, viruses, ecology, crime, etc)?
  • How does knowledge from this simulation relate to reality? List some things that do and don’t match up with reality.

Presentations slides are a visual aid. Use only small amounts of text.