CS382:Topics Matrix

This is meant to be a rough draft of an idea Charlie and I talked about: that we should have a n-by-n matrix of different ideas that we want to make sure we hit. Since an n-by-n matrix is hard to display (especially on a wiki!) it turned into a list instead. Once this is finished, we should make sure that at least one unit addresses each one of these topics.

Initial "dimensions" of the matrix:

• Scientific disciplines
• Scientific tools
• Skill sets from the attribute guidelines

Scientific Disciplines

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Geology (earthquakes)
• Environmental science
• One of the social sciences

Potentially:

• Astronomy

Scientific Tools

• Equation-based modeling
• Agent-based modeling: Netlogo or AgentSheets
• Systems-based modeling: Vensim
• Visualization/visual modeling
• Mashups and Google Earth

Potentially

• SecondLife or OpenSim

Foundation Skills

• Creating a graph
• Interpreting a graph
• Basic statistics
• Estimation
• Parameter sweep
• Data collection

Potentially

• Building a physical model

Thoughts

Some of these should go somewhere, and some of these should be in every unit.

• What data do I need to collect, how do I collect it accurately, and then how do I build it
  • Perhaps one unit where they have to go out and collect data to see how hard it really is, how about modeling campus (rectangle and heart)
• Data collection: sensor nets, lasers

Course Structure

D R A F T

Week	Topic	Unit(s)	Discipline(s)	Skill(s)	Tool(s)	Notes
1	What's a Model?	Foundations	Generic	TBD	TBD
2	Using a Dynamic Model	Fire	Forestry	Critical parameter, parameter sweep	Agent modeling, NetLogo
3	Building a Static Model	Area	Generic	Accuracy, precision, estimation	Mashup	Software and physical
4	Visualizing Data	Mashup	TBD	TBD	Mashup	Tufte based approach?
5-6	Structural Modeling	Bridge	Physics	TBD	TBD	Software and physical?
7-8	Equation Modeling	Rocket	Math, Physics	TBD	TBD	Software and physical?
9	Modeling Society	People	Sociology	TBD	Agent modeling, NetLogo
10-11	Systems Dynamics Models	Systems Dynamics Placeholder	Sociology	TBD	TBD
12-13	Chaotic Systems	Climate	Lots	TBD	TBD

Some would be one week long, some two weeks. Make these into links to the units when they are in "First Draft" form.