Day 5

Shodor Main Image Text that says the Shodor Foundation

Today Bob2 began the class by explaining that today was project day. The students wondered what the projects were, and Bob2 explained they were building the following models: lynx and hares, bungee jumping, and an atmospheric science model. The students then dove in with very little help. The first challenge was to build the lynx and hares model in STELLA. The students observed this was very much like the population models, and thus should be treated like one. The students were entirely on their own after Bob2 gave them the nescessary information. This activity was a real challenge for the students, but they all enjoyed it greatly and learned a lot. Bob2, Faith, and Lauren gave a little help relating to use of STELLA, but let the students figure out all of the math and equations. It was difficult, but the pairs and teams continued working together and helping each other come up with ideas and put them in STELLA. Some students finished earlier than others, but all got the hang of it.

After the break, Bob2 had the class begin the bungee jumping model. The object of the bungee model is to see how close you can get to the ground, from the highest platform, with the weakest rope, and without killing the jumper. The students pointed out this was a more difficult model, but they had already done one on their own so that wasn't a major problem. One of the most common questions the students asked was 'How do we know when we're right?', and the teachers weren't answering it. The students ended up answering almost all their own questions. The students all also loved the concept of bungee jumping. Once they were done with the model all the students shared their results, and compared how people of different weights and different heights went. They then made the model easier to use by doing several things, like building in a weight to mass conversion. After the T-shirts were passed out, the MYW class came to an end.