Teaching and Learning with Simulation and Modelling

Teaching and Learning with Simulation and Modelling

Nowadays, the process of the teaching and learning are more advances because we can relate
and use the new technologies to involve in the teaching and learning process. Simulation is
the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. This simulation
technology is the best example to relate the new technologies with the teaching and learning
process. By combining his technologies with the teaching and learning process, the learning
process become more interactive, attractive, colourful and nicely and the student can easily to
understand the lesson because they can see the process of the knowledge. Example is the
predator and prey process, if we just tell them in theory; the student will be confused and take
a time to understand. But, by using this simulation technic, the student can see the process
and get the result of the process in a short of time. Other, the teaching process also will be
more easy, save of time, the data can be used in many times, more effective and the important
one is the student enjoy to studies. This simulation technics is usually used by the pilot
training, a medical learning process, engineering learning process, military training, and
many else. There have some software that can be used to make the simulation such STELLA.

The other technologies that used widely in the teaching and learning process is modelling
technics. This modelling technics is either used the model in three dimensions, 3-D that we
can touch out or in three dimensions, 3-D virtually in the computer. Others, the modelling are
a building representation of things in the „real world‟ and allowing ideas to be investigated.
This technic also is very interactive, attractive, easily to understand and may be the best way
of the teaching and learning process. When these two technologies were combining together,
both simulation and the modelling technologies, it will become the powerful and the best of
technologies that used in teaching and learning process.

The benefit when we used these technologies in the teaching and learning process, the result
getting more precise of prediction, stimuli the student willing to learning and many else. For
the some learning process such the predator and prey experiment activities, when we use the
concept of the simulation and the modelling in term of the experiment, we can get the precise
accurate prediction for long period of time about this interaction of predator and prey and can
stimulate the willing of the student to study. Other, it also can save our time, because if we do

the real experiment, it need the time for the animal to multiply and consuming, and it will
take a lot of time to complete the research. But by using the simulation and modelling
technic, we just adjust the manipulating variable and insert the data and the result of the
predator and prey interaction can be shown and predicted in day only when we compare
when doing the real research for the several years. But to get the data, the researcher also
needs a time to take the data, maybe for a month to collect the data.

Besides that, the modelling and the simulation can attract the willing of the student and public
to study and make the research. This is because, this technics is very attractive, cooperative,
enjoyable, easy to learn, and we can see the whole process happen in a short time. We also
can make the prediction based on the result get from this modelling and simulation technics.
Other than that, this modelling and simulation technic also represent the real situation in the
real world in to the virtually inside the simulation and the modelling programs. What happen
in the simulation and modelling program have a higher probability that it also may be occurs
on the real world because the data inside the modelling and simulation program is the real
data getting from the real world.

INTRODUCTION

Picture 1: The logo and symbol for STELLA

STELLA is a free open source software used to conduct an experiment in a virtual world
which gives the ideal result of the experiment. I got this software in the Iseesystem.com
which is in trial mode only and can be used for 30 days only, in order to use it much longer
and more features you need to purchase it. Once you downloaded the software, it got no
experimental function yet. Visit this site in order to get the experiment program by using the
internet, this software are free for 30 days.
http://www.iseesystems.com/community/downloads/EducationDownloads.aspx. I chose the
“Predator-prey dynamic” from the physical sciences part.

Predator-prey dynamic form the topic of study in virtually any biology of
environment Science curriculum. On one hand, the treatment can be highly qualitative and
somewhat simplistic example, predator tends to regulate the prey population and vice versa.
On the other hand, the treatment can be highly mathematically, involving the analytic
solution to nonlinear differential equation. Unfortunately, with either extreme, it can be
difficult to build an understanding of the proses and mechanism that govern predator-prey
interactions.

By providing a simple yet rigorous language for presenting a dynamic system or process,
STELLA enables you to map your assumption about the process that governs a particular

dynamic phenomenon. You and other literally can see what you are thinking. Using a simple
algebraic relationship, you can then add another measure of rigor to the representation of the
process. Finally the software powerful simulation capabilities created a rich laboratory for
conducting controlled experiment. As you learn from the experiment, you can flow back your
knowledge into the model. A virtuous cycle indeed.

From my first impression, this software is very versatile and very good to use by
science teacher to be used in the class. This software is implying all the real factors in the real
world and put it into the virtual experiment to make it as real as possible. So, the teachers can
explain to the student virtually without putting the environment factor aside. Besides that, it
has quite long period of trial version which is 30 days.

CONTENT

Picture 2: The image of the Predator-prey Dynamic model

This virtual experiment was created by the STELLA and this is the front page of the
simulation. From the front page, we can be directed to 3 different links, which is, the
background and the context of the experiment, conducting the experiment and finally
exploring the model. Need to be mentioned here, this simulation has the copyright under the
STELLA.

When we were directed to the “background and Context” page, it tells us about the
introduction of the experiment and some of the information regarding to the experiment. The
information was about the variables in the experiments. It also ask the readers about the
possibilities and the result outcomes when some of the variables were change. This page is
very useful in order to gives pre-image of the experiment that we‟ll conduct next to the

students. Hence, will help the teachers to explain about the experiment to the students and
make the students understand even more. Other, the Stella also can be used in our daily life
when the entire variable that we program at the Stella is happen in the world. So it can be our
guiding to predict what will happen when the variable is change.

Predator-prey dynamic form the topic of study in virtually any biology of
environment Sciencecurriculum. On one hand, the treatment can be highly qualitative and
somewhat simplistic example, predator tends toregulate the prey population and vice versa.
On the other hand, the treatment can be highlymathematically, involving the analytic solution
to nonlinear differential equation. Unfortunately, with either extreme, it can be difficult to
build an understanding of the proses and mechanism that govern predator-prey interactions.

Picture 3: The background and context of the predator-prey model.

After learning about habitats, food webs and food chains, students can begin to
discover the relationships between organisms and between organisms and their environment.
A key to many of these studies to the investigation of how populations change over time.
Populations are always changing. Sometimes changes are the result of humans interfering
with food webs or habitats. But even when humans do not interfere, populations will still
naturally shift up and down or fluctuate. The purpose of this experiment was inside the

background and context is about the interesting and only party understood density variation
are those which are not related to seasonal or obvious annual changes, but which involved
regular oscillations or cycles of abundance with peaks and depression every few years, often
occurring with such regularity that the population size may predicted in advance.

Among the mammals, the best studied example exhibit either a 9 to 10 years or 3 to 4
years periodicity. As an example, we will look closely at the relationship between the Canada
lynx and its primary prey, the snowshoe hare as a classic example of a 9 to 10 years
oscillation. In this experiment, assume that we are the manager of a small but thriving natural
wilderness area. Key species in the wilderness include hare and lynx. Over the past several
years, the two populations have coexisted in peace, harmony and equilibrium. Life‟s been
good.

Now, however, there‟s a proposal on the table from the Baffin‟s Bay Company to
humanely harvest some portion of the lynx population. This is intended to be a one-time
event. You‟ve been assured that nature will compensate for this action to once again balance
the population.

The snowshoe hare is a common species of rabbit found in North America, its range
extending throughout Canada, Alaska, and into the northern United States. One distinctive
quality is its 2 different coloration patterns brown in the summer, and white in the winter to
better camouflage with the snow. Its diet consists of grasses, berries, twigs, bark and
leaves.The Canada lynx is a wild cat that resembles a large house cat with a short tail and
prominent tufts on its ears. It is very secretive and even experienced hunters rarely see one in
the wild. Its range overlaps with the snowshoe hare, on which it almost exclusively preys
upon

Picture 4: The core model structure for the simple predator-prey Dynamics

Picture 5: the equation of the predator and prey dynamics

CONDUCTED EXPERIMENT

The data Of The Experiment

Picture 6: The background of the graph

The simulation of the experiment in this software are set to let the data collected in the
experiment was completely perfected which means there will be no error as if we do the
experiment in the real world situations. But remember, you need to enter the exactly true data
to get the exactly predicted data. In this experiment of predator-prey dynamic experiment
need the exactly true data from the real world to help us to collect the data and predict the
activity, the population of the predator, and the population of the prey. This experiment is
high level because we need the real number of the population of the predator and the prey.
However, we also can predict their activity and their population by assuming their number of
population. Based on the picture 4, the variable that we can change is the size of 1 time lynx
harvest. But we can also add the manipulating variable by follow the step below:

Picture 7: Step 1. To add the new manipulating variable, right click at the manipulating
variable and choose „copy‟ selection. After that, right click back and choose „paste‟ selection.

Picture 8: Step 2. The news variable knob was added.

Picture 9: Step 3. Right click the variable knob and click „open‟,

Picture 10: Step 4. After click „open‟, the right table is and the manipulated variable that we
can use.

After we chose the manipulated variable that we want to use, we press button „ok‟.

Picture 12: The new manipulated variable „Hares population‟ was shown.

(the knob input device)

Picture 13: The knob input device.

To add the other manipulating variable or knob, repeat step 1 to step 4 or just click at the
knob input device as shown in picture 11.In this experiment, I would choose five
manipulating variables such, the number of the Hare, the number of Lynx, the fraction of
Hare birth, the fraction of Lynx birth and the size of 1time Lynx harvest. The result for the
data is manipulated in duration 60 years of period time. If we have the true exactly data of the
Hare and Lynx population, activities, and reproductive fraction of both, we can get best data
that we can use to predict the Population of the Hare and Lynx at the area.

1

2

3

4

5

6
Picture 14: The graph and the full manipulated variable.

MANIPULATED VARIABLE

1. Area (the habitat wide)
2. Size of 1 time lynx harvests
3. Population of lynx
4. Population of Hare
5. Lynx birth fraction
6. Hare birth fraction

1. Area

Area in this experiment meant is the wide of the habitat of the lynx population and the
hare population lives. The wide for the area of habitat we can adjust from 1 meter square
to infinity, but for this experiment, I only take from 1 meter square to 10000 meter
square. The wide of the area of the habitat is taking the important role for the both animal
predator and prey to live and multiply. The habitat also can give the animal shelter and
food. The bigger the area of habitat, the probability for the animal both predator and prey

to have a lot of the food is higher. Both of the population of lynx and Hare is depend to
the wide of area and the amount of the food supply in the habitat that they live.

2. Size of 1 time lynx harvests

Size of 1 time lynx harvests meant that in the period of time, how much the interaction
between the predators Lynx with the prey Hare happen. 1 time harvests meant a Lynx
capture and eat a Hare in the one period time. The time in this experiment is not shown
clearly and it just give the period time of the interaction happen start from 1 days to 60
years. When we adjust the knob to the high size of lynx harvests, the higher the number
of the interaction between the predator and the prey happen in some period time. If we
adjust it to 360 times lynx harvests, that‟s mean 360 Hare has been capture by 360 lynx in
1 period time. So the interaction happens rapidly.

3. Population of lynx

Population of lynx knob function is to adjust the number of the Lynx population inside the
dynamic experiment. The number of lynx population that we can adjust is from 0 numbers to
infinity. But to get the true result, we should follow the data that we get from the real data
collected. Therefore, we can estimate and predict with more precision the number of the lynx
population for a long period time but it depend on the wide of the habitat, food supply,
climate, and many else.

4. Population of Hare

Population of Hare knob function is to adjust the number of hare population inside the
dynamic experiment. The number of hare population that we can adjust is from 0 numbers to
infinity. But to get the true result, we should follow the data that we get from the real data
collected. Therefore, we can estimate and predict with more precision the number of the hare
population for a long period time but it depend on the wide of the habitat, food supply,
climate, predator and many else.

5. Lynx birth fraction

Lynx birth fraction knob function is to adjust the number of the Lynx birth fraction inside the
dynamic experiment. The number of Lynx birth fraction that we can adjust is from 0 numbers
fraction to infinity. But to get the true result, we should follow the data that we get from the
real data collected. Therefore, we can estimate and predict with more precision the number of
the lynx population for a long period time but it depend on the wide of the habitat, food
supply, climate, and many else.

6. Hare birth fraction
Hare birth fraction knob function is to adjust the number of hare population inside the
dynamic experiment. The number of hare birth fraction population that we can adjust
is from 0 numbers to infinity. But to get the true result, we should follow the data that
we get from the real data collected. Therefore, we can estimate and predict with more
precision the number of the hare population for a long period time but it depend on
the wide of the habitat, food supply, climate, predator and many else.

GRAPH

In this dynamic experiment, we can shows a different kind of graph. The ways to add the new
graph is shown below.

Picture 15: How to add graph Picture 16: How to add graph

Type of graph selection

The graph
legend that
can be used.

‘page’, to add number of
the graph.
To adjust the period time
for the simulation
dynamic experiment
conducted Picture 17: The ways to add more graph page.

Legend of experiment

The legend of this experiment is limited. We just can choose the legend from the table. It
already fixed. Therefore this legend will affect the graph that you want to see. All the graph
for each legend is not same and it different since in the data is different.

Duration

The time duration on this experiment can be set up at the „Display‟ option as shown at picture
14. We can setup it follow how long period time that we want to see the interaction of the
animal to predict their population until the time that we setup. The time is adjustable.

Page

The page of graph is also adjustable. We can select the other page for the graph. But this page
is limited to the number of legend that we can use in this experiment. When we are finish
inside the legend, therefore there is the limit for us to add more graph because all the legend
had been used. So the next graph page is not available.

Type of Graph

There have three type of graph that we can select. Example is time series graph, scatter graph
and bar chart graph.

EXPERIMENT CONDUCT

In this this experiment, I would like to select three knobs or manipulating data to study this
simulation dynamic experiment. The knobs or manipulating data that selected is the knob
area (the wide of the habitat), the number of the lynx population, and the number of hare
population. I‟mchoosingthese three parameters because I think this already enough to collect
the data that we need. The population of the animal is depending on the wide their habitat
because that habitat supply food to the animal and the concentration of the animal to the wide
of habitat can be shown in term of graph. Therefore we can see the number of the animal that
can live at the some wide area or habitat.

‘area’ knob

The number of
lynx population

The number of
hare population

Picture 18: The knob used in the experiment.

The number of graph that was used is five. First graph will show the number of both
population of lynx and hare. Second graph will show the number of the lynx date and hare
death. Third graph show the number of lynx birth and the hare birth. Fourth graph shows the
number of hare killed per lynx. To conduct this experiment, my point is on the table 1.

Experiment 1

1.0 The data

Area 1000 m2
Number of lynx 100
population
Number of hare 300
population
Duration 60 years

2.0 Result
Red line= Lynx
Blue line= Hare

Graph 1: The number of population Graph 2: the death number of lynx and hare
lynx and hare

Graph 3: The birth number of lynx Graph 4: The number of hare killed
and hare per lynx

Discussion

In this experiment, we were assuming that the wide area for the animal habitat is 1000 m2, the
number of lynx population is 100, and the population of hare is 300. Roughly, based on the
graph 1, 2, and 3, when the number of lynx is higher, the number of the hare is lower. At the
first to third years, the population of both animal predator lynx and prey hare is in the normal
state. After several years, the population of lynx increase rapidly and achieve at the maximum
point at the top. After several years, it starts to decrease. The assumptions that can be do for
this situation is limited food supply. When there have a lot or maximum number of the lynx
population, it has the problem in competition to get the food from their prey because as it
population become bigger the food or prey needed also must be higher. As the lynx
population is bigger therefore the hare killed per lynx also is bigger and can caused the
number of hare population decrease to the lowest based on graph 4.

When this situation happen, in the several period of time, the lynx will die because there have
not enough food to eat as the number of prey is very little and hard to find them. When there
have a lot of lynx death, there have a change for the hare to breeding and multiply because
the number of lynx as predator already reduce because a lot of them death because of starving
and not have enough food. Therefore, after several time, the population of the hare is increase
as the number of lynx reducing because the predator have a little number in population.
Besides, as the food of the hare is bigger because at the time that their population at lowest,
their food getting bigger and higher in quantity because just a little portion of hare that still
survive that eat them. So, when the number of the hare increases, there have no problem to
get a food. While the number of lynx is still decrease maybe caused of the disease as a lot of
them die.

When the number of predator lynx is lowest, the number of the prey hare getting higher as the
number of the predator is lower. At the time that the prey hare increase in the number of the
population into the maximum point, its mean that the food supply for the prey hare also
getting to the limits and cannot serve for a lot of the hare. Therefore the competition among
the hare becomes higher to get the food. As the result, many of hare will die because of
starving and have not enough food. As there have a lot of hare die, it also may contribute the
virus and the sick to the other that caused the number of hare die increasing rapidly. As the
hare population decreasing, the number of the lynx is increasing maybe because there have a
lot and enough food to eat as the number of the prey hare is still in a large in size.

Conclusion, this situation is have a cycle, average 4 cycle in 60 years. That means the number
of both lynx and hare population at the maximum and minimum number of population is 4
times in 60 years. What happen in the lynx population also will be also happen in the hare
population. The increase and decrease number of the predator and prey is because there are
much related to each other in term of food chain.

Experiment 2

1.0 Data

Area 1000 m2
Number of lynx 150
population
Number of hare 150
population
Duration 60 years

2.0 Result
Red line= Lynx
Blue line= Hare

lynx and hare

and hare per lynx

3.0 Discussion

Experiment 2, in this experiment, we were assuming that the wide area for the animal
habitat is 1000 m2 same as the wide in area of habitat as in experiment 1, the number of
lynx population is increase to 150, and the population of hare is decreased to 150. The
result is getting closed to the experiment 1, but the difference is just the amount of the
population of the lynx and the hare. The assumption on this experiment is also getting the
same as in the experiment 1.

In this experiment, we use the data that the number of the lynx and the hare population is
the same, 150. In my opinion, at the first years, the animal is interacting with the balance,
because the number of the predator is the same with the number of the prey. Other their
number also is not to bigger with compared to the wide area of their habitat, therefore the
prey of hare has enough food in the habitat because there have just a little competition.

Therefore their can multiply and breeding more rapidly. After the several time, the
interaction will occurring as in the experiment 1 to achieve the relationship of predator
and the prey. And complete the food chain interaction.

Conclusion, this situation is have a cycle, average 4 cycle in 60 years. That means the
number of both lynx and hare population at the maximum and minimum number of
population is 4 times in 60 years. What happen in the lynx population also will be also
happen in the hare population. The increase and decrease number of the predator and prey
is because there are much related to each other in term of food chain.

Experiment 3
1.0 Data

Area 1000 m2
Number of lynx 300
population
Number of hare 150
population
Duration 60 ears
2.0 Result
Red line= Lynx
Blue line= Hare

lynx and hare

and hare per lynx

3.0 Discussion

Experiment 3, in this experiment, we were assuming that the wide area for the animal habitat
is 1000 m2 same as the wide in area of habitat as in experiment 1, the number of lynx
population is increase to 300, and the population of hare is decreased to 150. The result is
getting closed to the experiment 1, but the difference is just the amount of the population of
the lynx and the hare. The assumption on this experiment is also getting the same as in the
experiment 1.

In my opinion, at the first years, the animal is interacting with the balance, because the
number of the predator is the same with the number of the prey. Other their number also is
not to bigger with compared to the wide area of their habitat, therefore the prey of hare has
enough food in the habitat because there have just a little competition. Therefore their can
multiply and breeding more rapidly. After the several time, the interaction will occurring as
in the experiment 1 to achieve the relationship of predator and the prey. And complete the
food chain interaction.


Experiment 4

Picture 19: Graph for experiment 4

Graph 1: the population of lynx and hare Graph 2: The number of birth lynx and
hare

Graph 3: The number of the lynx and hare death.

For this experiment, we just used 1 type of knob only, that‟s mean there have the only one
manipulating variable used. The knob used is the size of 1 time lynx harvests. In this
experiment, the number of the lynx harvests fore hare is 0 such the size of 1 time lynx
harvests is set at 0. Thus the student will predict what a type of the graph is produce when
there have no interaction of the lynx and hare happen. In graph 1, it will show you the
number of the lynx and hare population. Since we were set the knob of size of 1 time lynx
harvest is 0, therefore there no interaction between the predator and prey. So the number of
both populations is remaining the same.

The graph 2 shows the number of lynx and hare birth. Since there have no interaction
between the predator and prey, therefore the number of birth for both animal is in balance and
remaining the same. Graph 3 shows the number of lynx and hare death. Since there have no
interaction, therefore the number of death of both is balance, normal and not caused by each
other.

Experiment 5

Picture 20: The graph for the experiment when the size of 1 time lynx harvests is increase to
360 times.

Graph 1: the population of lynx and hare Graph 2: The number of birth lynx and
hare

Graph 3: The number of the lynx and hare death.

In this experiment 5, we were adjusting the meter knob of the size of 1 time lynx harvest to
the 360. The student will make a prediction what is the type of the graph will form when the
knob is change. When the knob is adjusted to the 360 time, its mean that the one time, the
360 of lynx had success to harvests 360 of hares. Therefore the interaction between the
predator and prey has occurred rapidly. As there have the interaction on the predator and
prey, so the number of the birth and the death also will change.

The number of the lynx is changing over the several years depends on the population of the
hares. As the number of the predator is increase, the number of prey kill be decrease and vice
versa. In favourable condition, when there is sufficient resource, an increase in the prey
population is closely followed by an increase in the predator population. The assumptions
that can be do for this situation is limited food supply. When there have a lot or maximum
number of the lynx population, it has the problem in competition to get the food from their
prey because as it population become bigger the food or prey needed also must be higher. As
the lynx population is bigger therefore the hare killed per lynx also is bigger and can caused
the number of hare population decrease to the .

When this situation happen, in the several period of time, the lynx will die because there have
not enough food to eat as the number of prey is very little and hard to find them. When there
have a lot of lynx death, there have a change for the hare to breeding and multiply because
the number of lynx as predator already reduce because a lot of them death because of starving
and not have enough food. Therefore, after several time, the population of the hare is increase
as the number of lynx reducing because the predator have a little number in population.
Besides, as the food of the hare is bigger because at the time that their population at lowest,
their food getting bigger and higher in quantity because just a little portion of hare that still
survive that eat them. So, when the number of the hare increases, there have no problem to
get a food. While the number of lynx is still decrease maybe caused of the disease as a lot of
them die.

When the number of predator lynx is lowest, the number of the prey hare getting higher as the
number of the predator is lower. At the time that the prey hare increase in the number of the
population into the maximum point, its mean that the food supply for the prey hare also

getting to the limits and cannot serve for a lot of the hare. Therefore the competition among
the hare becomes higher to get the food. As the result, many of hare will die because of
starving and have not enough food. As there have a lot of hare die, it also may contribute the
virus and the sick to the other that caused the number of hare die increasing rapidly. As the
hare population decreasing, the number of the lynx is increasing maybe because there have a
lot and enough food to eat as the number of the prey hare is still in a large in size.


CONCLUSION

As the conclusion modelling and the simulation can attract the willing of the student and
public to study and make the research. This is because, this technics is very attractive,
cooperative, enjoyable, easy to learn, and we can see the whole process happen in a short
time. We also can make the prediction based on the result get from this modelling and
simulation technics. Other than that, this modelling and simulation technic also represent the
real situation in the real world in to the virtually inside the simulation and the modelling
programs. What happen in the simulation and modelling program have a higher probability
that it also may be occurs on the real world because the data inside the modelling and
simulation program is the real data getting from the real world.

REFFERENCE

1. Teaching And Learning With Simulation. REetrieved November 28, 2012, from

http://www.ioe.ac.uk/study/MMACLD _02.html

2. „Predator-Prey Dynamics‟Retrieved November 28, 2012, from

http://www.iseesystems.com/community/downloads/EducationDownloads.aspx

3. Predation. Retrieved November 28, 2012, from

http://www.globalchange.umic.edu/globalchange current/.html

Teaching and Learning with Simulation and Modelling

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