It's almost the winter break holiday...and you can feel the energy in the air!  This week, we are learning more about Modeling and Simulations, and exploring a real simulation about how disease spreads.   Together, we are using the iPads to explore the app SpeedSIM.  If you are interested in checking it out as well, you can download it here for Android devices, or you can search for SpeedSIM in the Apple App store.   

The app was developed by University of Maine associate professor David Hiebeler, and we are using the SIRS or Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible cycle to talk about why computer simulations are sometimes important for scientists to explore topics that may not be possible to explore in a physical experiment.  We used the example that we could not use other students to do a science experiment for how the flu spread in our school because it would take too long, AND it isn't nice, ethical, or OK to get your classmates sick for an experiment!  Which is why we use computer simulations where we can change parameters to see different ways that diseases can spread.  In the next few weeks, the students will be creating their own simulation using Tynker, a coding app for kids.   

Over break, if you have access to a computer at home or at the library, students can keep up with their techie skills by working in a few suggested websites!  

1. Tynker  Your student may want to get a headstart on learning block coding on this website.  We will be using the app version of Tynker, so if you would like you can search for the Tynker app that works on both an Android and Apple tablet or phone. 
2. www.code.org  The students have all been working on coding already, and can see their progress by logging in with their Google account. 
3. Typing Club  Here you can access the Typing Practice lessons that your student uses.  
4.Scratch Coding Games  Coding is super fun when working in Scratch! This website allows you to create your own project or game.  

You don't have to be alone when you use technology.  If you have a device at home, work with your students to explore coding!  We have been learning so many new things, and it is great to give your student the opportunity to share with their family and friends. 

Our class is moving forward by looking at the different ways that diseases spread, and how we can track down who "patient zero" is, or the person that starts the spread of a communicable disease.  There have been many questions as to why we are looking at this subject!  It is very reasonable to ask, and I have an answer!   

To further build on the way we think about a problem, we have been exploring the spread of a disease through simulations and experiments that we have actually done.  Last week and early this week, we finished our small group experiment to see which soap works best for removing fake glitter "germ lotion" from our hands.  We worked through the Scientific Inquiry Process, and wrote conclusions based on the data we collected with our experiment. So what does this have to do with technology and Digital Literacy you might ask?  Sometimes in our learning, the context for what we are about to do doesn't seem clear until we get a little further along.  With this unit, that just very well might be true.  This week, we started a new unit "Infections/Detections Modeling and Simulations".  This unit is looking at computer simulations, one of which is the spread of disease.  Without all of our earlier exploration on the subject, we wouldn't know what we were really looking at when we started to see these computer simulations!  

One of the apps that we will be using this week is called SpeedSIM.  If you have a tablet or phone at home that you would be willing to download the app on, it would be a great app to check out with your student.  I have included the link to the Android version of the app.   You can change the parameters (another great vocab word we have been working on...) to see how the outcome in the simulation changes.   It is a great way to explore technology and science with your student!

Scientific Inquiry Process