This site provides a simulation of interactions among three trophic levels The user types in values for several parameters and views the results of the interactions among a populations of plants, herbivores, and carnivores, graphically in terms of the size of the three populations over time. ). A minimal background is given primarily to provide the mathematics behind the simulation. A few questions, in the form of a homework assignment, are provided to help students explore and apply the concepts.
Type of Material:
Animation/Simulation
Technical Requirements:
HTML, Java 1.1
Target Student Population:
Upper division undergraduate
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Quality of Content: (4) (3.50) = 3.8
The material was accurate and depicts relationships well
The applet appears to work soundly and depict the model accurately
Concerns:
The descriptions are far too brief for a new user to be sure what parameters represent
Vocabulary needs to be defined
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool: (4) (4.4) = 4.2
Clean and simple interface and display would make this adaptable for any upper division ecology class
Could be used to promote exploration and problems solving
Should be easy to write assignments for it.
Concerns:
Needs to have a much more extensive explanation of the parameters and the theory behind the system.
Needs to have an exploration or hints segment as in the Lotka-Volterra Assignment to orient students.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Usability: (4)( 3.5) = 3.8
All controls work well and simply
Generally intuitive
Extremely fast response
Concerns:
Axis units should be labeled
Without ample instruction the user may not be sure what s/he is manipulating
Overall rating: (4) (3.8) = 3.9
Author's comments:
I would like to comment that although others might wish a computer lab to be more self-explanatory, we don't want that. These labs are used to apply lecture material. In general, it suits our pedagogic goals to give the students just enough,
but -never- too much or to do too much for them. The student must supply brain, with assignment as catalyst. :) I regret that choice affected our grading on Merlot. However, the HTML reader files along the left-hand-side are completely customizable for any class. More can be added, or what's there changed, with a simple text editor, to suit the course.
Creative Commons:
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