Lecture Notes: System Dynamics in Biology Teaching
Introduction
- Speaker: John Darko, a seasoned biology teacher.
- Background:
- 18 years teaching experience.
- Courses taught: AP Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Physics.
- Education: BA in Sociology, Post Bachelor’s in Life Science Education, Master’s in Education and Curriculum.
- Currently taking graduate courses in Biological Science.
- Developed online System Dynamics models for biology/ecology exploration available at johndarko.com.
System Dynamics in Teaching
- Approach to Teaching:
- Use System Dynamics models in teaching.
- Students engage mainly through simulations.
- Encourage students to modify and build System Dynamics models.
Goals of Using System Dynamics
- Investigations: Allow students to explore models and conduct virtual experiments.
- Model Representation: Understanding models as representations of systems.
- Teaching Dynamic Systems: Understanding biological systems as dynamic systems.
- Scientific Experiments: Engage students in designing critical experiments.
Teaching Strategies
Using System Dynamics Models
- Exploration: Students modify parameters in simulations (e.g., enzyme activity).
- Model Interactions: Transition between different types of models (diagrams, equations).
- Dynamic Systems Understanding: Capture the non-linear relationships in biology.
Example: Enzyme Model Simulation
- Interface: Variables and sliders for manipulating experiments.
- Statistics: Include randomness for calculating mean, standard deviation, etc.
- Scientific Method: Teach scientific practices through simulations.
Student Engagement
- Pre-Lab Questions: Guide students in setting up experiments.
- Data Representation: Encourage graphing and re-representing data.
Teaching Behaviors and Experiments
Behavior Over Time Graphs
- Graph Interpretation: Students predict outcomes using graphs.
- Simulation Exercises: Explore cellular respiration using dynamic models.
Designing Controlled Experiments
- Learning Objectives: Understand how to design experiments that answer specific questions.
- Limitations: Teach students to focus on questions answerable by the model.
Advanced Experiment Design
- Crucial Experiments: Design experiments that distinguish between competing models.
- Example: Experiments on glucose transport in cell membranes.
Encouraging Creativity
- Student Model Building:
- Design models with negative feedback for self-regulation.
- Encourage creativity alongside scientific accuracy.
Classroom Techniques
- Group Work: Promote collaboration through roles (e.g., Navigator, Driver).
- Feedback: Provide opportunities for students to identify model limitations.
Conclusion and Reflection
- Student Learning: Focus on understanding over perfect modeling.
- System Dynamics Application: Applicable across various biological and scientific contexts.
These notes cover all the essential details from John Darko's lecture on using System Dynamics to teach biology, providing students with a dynamic understanding of systems through interactive modeling and simulations.