THE EFFICACY OF USING AN AGENT-BASED MODELING SYSTEM THROUGH NETLOGO TO TEACH POPULATION GROWTH AND EXPONENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Publisher
The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.Abstract
The study of complex systems is complicated by many factors; yet it becomes increasingly necessary to teach students these complex systems. Here, I examine whether an agent-based instruction sequence, in NetLogo, improved student understanding of the complex system of population growth and its corresponding mathematical model, the exponential function. The study included 37 undergraduate psychology students that took a pre-test, then went through an instruction sequence (either with agent-based instruction or instruction without the agent-based component) and finally took a post-test. Pre-to post-test scores were compared. The instruction sequence improved the scores of students from pre-to post-test but there was no significant difference in scores due to an agent-based component.Type
Electronic Thesistext
Degree Name
B.S.Degree Level
bachelorsDegree Program
Neuroscience and Cognitive ScienceHonors College