Models, Systems, and Randomness: Teacher Resources

The sequence is constituted by a set of modules, that is small activity sequences that can be combined according to the order preferred by the teacher:

[LEGO robots] [Guess my Garden] [TT and LEGO robots] [TT models of LEGO robots]

The modules can be arranged as follows:


 

Learning snapshots and Pedagogical advice

• Pedagogical advice: Cultural issues

Papers

• Cerulli M., Chiocchiariello A., Lemut E.: (2005) "Randomness and Lego Robots" .Presented at CERME4, 4th conference of the European society for Research in Mathematics Education, St. Feliux du Guixol, Feb. 2005, Spain.
• Cerulli M., Chioccariello A., Fernaeus Y., Lemut E., Tholander J.: (2005) "Exploring randomness via studying, building and sharing models". To be presented at EARLI 2005.

General background

The general theme will be to build models with computational materials to represent and explore various phenomena in the real world.

In this topic the students will work with different themes:

One theme concerns the concept of randomness, and how randomness could be understood and used when modelling on the computer. One of the activities will be to create a "Random Garden" using the ToonTalk tools. We will also explore different ways of understanding "random" phenomena in nature and try to represent these on the computer and by playing with Lego-robots.
 

Part of this theme will also be to put together an Encyclopaedia of Randomness.
 

Click here to play the Guess my Garden Game.
 

We also experimented with a ToonTalk model of the "Sweeper Bot":
 

Click here to play with ToonTalk models of the "Sweeper" Lego Robot.

Model building activities

Another theme concerning model building of phenomena where randomness plays a part, such as games and eco systems. Here we use a set of animal gadgets that helps us model these phenomena. Here is some teacher guidance for modelling within ToonTalk.