That you avoid losing credit due bad networks
The primary goal of this assignment is to give you a simple introduction to two software environments we will use later in this course, and to insure early that you are able to use these successfully. You will
● create and report on a simple System Dynamics model using Insight Maker ● create and report on a simple Agent-Based model using NetLogo
You should create a model with a single stock, and either an incoming or outgoing flow, with a feedback loop whereby the current state of the stock affects the flow. You should make the stock and flow be something imaginative and interesting, other than the population model I presented.
You should plan on turning in the following in a single PDF file as a simple but professional report
○ The output plot from running your model, INCLUDING YOUR NAME IN THE TITLE OF THE PLOT. Again, it’s probably best to capture the window and insert it into a document (making sure that it is of reasonable quality for a professional report), then convert it all to PDF.
● A summary and commentary on the ease or difficulty you encountered in this task.
Your submitted report should be created by adding the following sections to the beginning of the Info section of the model
● Abstract
● Introduction
● Methods
● Summary (include any problems you may have had and solutions)
● References - you will obviously be copying an existing model and making slight modifications to it. This means that you must cite and reference the source of your model.● If you are using Mac OS X, you may find problems getting NetLogo to work. I’m not a Mac user but apparently some people have had problems with later versions of NetLogo and/or later versions of Mac OS X. You should prepare for this and plan to spend time trying to understand and document a solution.
○ I recommend that if you run into problems you open up a topic in the Canvas Discussions to start a dialogue with any other potential Mac users to document solutions.
You should submit, long before the deadline a single PDF file for the Insight Maker task, and a single HTML file for the NetLogo task. Again, the HTML file that you submit should work correctly in a web browser.
This is arguably the easiest assignment you will get this term. It would be a real shame if you didn’t take it seriously and ended up having to take your “free low grade” on this one, but every term at least one person does!
Violations will be dealt with harshly, in many cases immediately removing you from the course.
Dealing with these issues is the worst part of my job. It takes away a lot of valuable time from more positive and productive course activities, and it’s especially sad because it affects students’ futures in very negative ways. But, it has to be done for the integrity of the course and the university and, ultimately, the responsibility lies with you, the student, to insure no violation.