PARENT SESSION
Oral Session # 18: Ecology Education I: K - 12.
Presiding: J Hanowski
Tuesday, August 5. 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, SITCC Meeting Room 104.
Teaching ecology in a science museum using an EcoBeaker simulation.
Maruca, Susan*,1, Meir, Eli1, Stal, Derek1, Reich, Christine2, 1 SimBiotic Software, Inc., Ithaca, NY2 Museum of Science Boston, Boston, MA
ABSTRACT- We developed a simulation model using the EcoBeaker software framework to teach principles of disease dynamics and control to guests of the Museum of Science (MoS), Boston. The simulation, which allows users to manage their own fish farm and implement various strategies for controlling disease outbreaks, is part of MoS's upcoming exhibit on using models as tools for scientific exploration and discovery. We will present a synopsis of development, a demonstration of the simulation software, usage data and assessment results from museum guest users, and a discussion of the future of using simulation models for teaching ecology in outreach educational settings.
Key words: ecological modeling, aquaculture, ecology education, epidemiology