Subject: Curriculum - Biology (Burke)

Posted by Della Robertson on 12/7/2005
In Reply To:Curriculum - Biology (Burke) Posted by John Heinbokel on 12/7/2004

Message:

John,

I just read your reply to Dan and that prompted me to send you a quick update email.

I'm in the computer lab, and the students are doing the Amalgamated Industries exercise that comes with the old 7.0.3 version of STELLA. I preceded this with lessons on Connection Tools, BOTG's, Stocks and Flows, and Causal Loops. I followed up with the Demo Dozen, instructing students to work through two. After a couple of weeks, I reviewed the aforementioned, then got them started on Amalgamated on 12/5/05. When kids got stuck today, I asked them to make a Connection Circle. Boy, did that help.

The students are producing a power point presentation to the city council (their classmates will play that role). I will send you one or two for your critique. I haven't forgotten about the larger work, dealing with small pox. I will get to it. I think it has tremendous potential!

As I write, I realize that samples of causal loops in the various disciplines would be a great help to teachers.

All for now.

Della