Teaching Biology and Scientific Practices through System Dynamics Modeling and Simulations

Abstract:
Biological systems are dynamic systems. System dynamics simulations provide excellent opportunities to teach the value of controlled experiments, the importance of large sample sizes, how to infer cause and effect relationships, infer cause and effect relationships, and how to reconstruct models based on experimental evidence. This presentation demonstrates how Jon Darkow uses system dynamics models and simulations to teach his high school biology students how to design controlled experiments, interpret and transform complex behavior over time graphs, draw conclusions, and re-represent the structure and function of system dynamics models.

Biography: Jon Darkow has taught a variety of biology courses at the high school and college level for the past 18 years at Seneca East High School in and through Bowling Green State University. Currently, Jon teaches AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Biology, and Physics. Jon has diverse academic training with a B.A. in Sociology from Ohio State University in 2000. He has a post-bachelors in Life Science Education and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University. Additionally, Jon has been completing graduate courses in the Department of Biological Science at Bowling Green State University. Jon has developed a robust set of online system dynamics models for students to explore biology and ecology at www.jondarkow.com.