Week 3: Introduction to Abstraction and Complex Systems
Learning Objective: This week focuses on the fundamental computer science concept of abstraction. In NetLogo, the student learns about local variables and iteration. Complex systems are also introduced.
About This Week:
- The scoring for the Programming Lab is slightly different to try and encourage the students to write a description of their program in the Info tab
- In the programming lab, the extra credits are a little more open ended.
- The quiz has been reworded somewhat. It also contains a short answer question from Blow to Bits.
- The presentation “Complex or Complicated” has been included for the teacher to use at their discretion. This presentation illustrates the difference between things that are truly complex (and can be modeled as Complex Adaptive Systems) and things that are just complicated.
Pacing Guide (.doc)
Do Now Questions
- Do Now Questions - with answers (.doc)
- Do Now Slides (.ppt)
- Do Now Questions Handout - no answers (.doc)
Optional Presentation
- Complex or Complicated (.ppt)
Programming Challenge
- Programming assignment: Spiraling Art Using a Repeat Loop (.doc)
- NetLogo Cheat Sheet (.doc)
- Sample Netlogo Code Example 1 (.nlogo) (.docx)
- Sample Netlogo Code Example 2 (.nlogo) (.docx)
- Sample Netlogo Code Example 3 (.nlogo) (.doc)
- Grading Rubric (.doc)
CS Concepts
- Computer Science Concepts (.doc)
Videos
- Abstraction in Computer Science (.mp4) (.ppt)
- Data Representation: Colors (.mp4)
- CS Constructs: Local Variables (.mp4) (.ppt)
- CS Constructs: Looping and Iteration (.mp4) (.ppt)
- Introduction to Complex Systems (.mp4) (.ppt)
- Emergence - PBS Documentary (.mp4)
- Video Summaries (.doc)
Reading Materials
- Blown to Bits Appendix (.pdf) (Reading Assignment pp. 309-316)
Hands on activities (optional)
- Experimenting with Color (.doc)
- Loop Da Loops Activity (.doc)
- Pixel Art Activity (.doc)
Quiz - WITH ANSWERS (.doc)
Quiz – NO ANSWERS (.doc)
