Modeling Exsolution (and Perthite Formation) as an Example of Complex-System Behavior part of Teaching Activities
Students use a physical model, computer simulation, examples from the natural world, visualizations, and overarching thought experiments to explore this phenomenon. Exsolution embodies attributes of a complex ...

Evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria part of Teaching Activities
This activity is intended to guide students to apply principles of evolution by natural selection to explain a real world biological phenomenon (the evolution of bacteria populations resistant to common ...

Modeling Earth's Energy Balance part of Teaching Activities
In this exercise, students use the STELLA box modeling software to determine Earth's temperature based on incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation. Starting with a simple black body model, ...

Modeling the oceanic thermohaline circulation with STELLA part of Teaching Activities
This activity describes the construction of and then experimentation with a STELLA model of the thermohaline circulation in the north Atlantic. Based on a famous paper by Stommel (1961), this model exhibits two ...

Modeling U-Series Concordia/Discordia Using STELLA part of Rates and Time:GSA Activity Posters
U-Series dating techniques are widely used to determine the absolute ages of some of Earth's oldest rocks, but the concordia/discordia diagram can be quite difficult for students to grasp. I have produced a STELLA-based lab exercise to develop students' understanding of this important chronologic technique. Students create models of the two isotopic decay systems and run these models to create the concordia diagram. They then carry out experiments in which they "add" or "remove" varying amounts of lead or uranium in simulation of metamorphism. In the course of the lab, students are introduced to the concepts of exponential decay and secular equilibrium as well as modeling concepts such as the creation of if-then statements.

The Fishing Game part of Teaching Activities
The Fishing Game pits students against two virtual fishing companies. The goal is to maximize the company's bank account at the end of 10 years' fishing. This almost always results in a crash of the ...

Watershed Management part of Teaching Activities
In this project, I ask students to use analogous reasoning to support the development of an accurate and rich conceptual model about a specific environmental issue using evidence collected from two watershed ...

Alternative futures lesson part of Teaching Activities
This lesson is the culmination of a course on river systems restoration being taught at the University of Washington as part of the Project "Data Sets and Inquiry in Geoscience Environmental Restoration ...

Water Bucket lab activity part of Teaching Activities
Online lab activity to explore the generic structure of a leaky water tank. Time delay and equilibrium are introduced.

Teaching Chaos and Complex Evolutionary Systems Theories at the Introductory Level part of Teaching Activities
This is a learning progression of 12 models leading to 19 learning outcomes designed to introduce chaos and complex systems theories concepts in 3 - 5 50 minute classes. Includes power points of class ...