SageModeler - Getting Started & Exploring Patterns

Building Your First Model Using SageModeler

Background: SageModeler is a free, web-based systems dynamics modeling tool for middle and high school students to construct dynamic models. SageModeler is being developed at the Concord Consortium and the CREATE for STEM Institute at Michigan State University. Here we are introducing you to this tool while allowing you to explore three different systems with similar structures - rabbit populations, Dr. Seuss' Lorax, and epidemics.

2) When you're finished with the intro activity, come back to complete a SageModeler activity on the Dynamics of Disease Epidemics. For a primer on modeling epidemics, view this descriptive 23-minute video. This video clearly demonstrates how models help make decisions for what works and what doesn't when slowing the spread of epidemics.

3) When you are finished with your activity, continue your learning by submitting your own, new model for others to use. Or go directly to the Concord Consortium's for many more activities! Use these links to access Concord Consortium's Free Interactive STEM Activities and SageModeler directly.

This activity was made possible thanks to these contributors, partners and funding agencies:

Tom Farmer is the primary author of this activity. Tom is a curriculum developer at the Concord Consortium.

The National Science Foundation is the US government agency that supports fundamental research and education in science and engineering.

The Concord Consortium is a nonprofit educational research and development organization creating large-scale improvements in teaching and learning through technology.

Michigan State University CREATE for STEM Institute is MSU's hub for STEM Education Research.