Introduction to Computational Modelling¶

Computational Modeling is a tool used by researchers in almost every discipline. It is used to visualize and explore complicated phenomena. One of the forms of computational modeling is agent-based modeling in which the real-world entities are represented by “agents”. Each agent has a set of properties and obeys a set of rules. This unit uses the NetLogo programming environment. NetLogo is an agent-based modeling enviornment originally built for teaching people how to program, but it has become a very popular tool among practicing researchers and scientists as well.

Our use of NetLogo is limited to achieving two objectives:

• developing an understanding that computational modeling can be used to answer memaningful questions in a wide variety of fields, and
• developing the first connections between the ideas of modeling and computation and the principles of abstraction and algorithms that underlie computational thinking.

There is, of course, much more to learn about NetLogo and computational modeling. But deeper study of either is beyond the scope of what this course can accomplish. These are great ideas to pursue in other courses or through personal investigation. Armed with the knowledge gained in this course, this further study will be much easier and more meaningful.