Grow a Vegetable Grow a Vegetable Garden SimulationGarden Simulation

Simulation Story BoardSimulation Story BoardSherry Burrill and Laura HurlbirtSherry Burrill and Laura Hurlbirt

Scenario - TypeScenario - Type

Goal Based - Simulation Outcomes:Goal Based - Simulation Outcomes:

Crop quantity Crop quantity

Crop quality Crop quality

Variable DataVariable Data

Scenario - TypeScenario - Type

Goal Based - Cognitive Outcomes:Goal Based - Cognitive Outcomes:

Develop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis

Design, perform experimentsDesign, perform experiments

Analyze dataAnalyze data

MissionMission

SimulationSimulation: Plant and raise a crop: Plant and raise a crop

HistoryHistory: Of interest to learner (grades 3-4), : Of interest to learner (grades 3-4), of benefit to community, inspired by the of benefit to community, inspired by the White House GardenWhite House Garden

BackgroundBackground: Must be educational, : Must be educational, designed to support State of Missouri designed to support State of Missouri Science and Mathematics requirementsScience and Mathematics requirements

Science and Mathematics Science and Mathematics RequirementsRequirements

Living OrganismsLiving Organisms: by providing knowledge about plants: by providing knowledge about plants

Ecology:Ecology: by demonstrating interactions among Organisms by demonstrating interactions among Organisms and their Environmentsand their Environments

Earth Systems:Earth Systems: by demonstrating interactions of weather by demonstrating interactions of weather and waterand water

Data and Probability:Data and Probability: by engaging the student in formulating by engaging the student in formulating questionsquestions

Data and Probability:Data and Probability: by providing graphs that r by providing graphs that represent and epresent and encourage the interpretation of dataencourage the interpretation of data

Scientific Inquiry: providing a means to Scientific Inquiry: providing a means to experiment and test theoriesexperiment and test theories

Row 1- Crop type? Add water? Add fertilizer?

Row 2- Crop type? Add water? Add fertilizer?

More plants?

How many carrots will I

get?

Healthier

plants?How many survived? What went

wrong?

ActivitiesActivities Look up and learn Look up and learn

about crops in about crops in Gardening Book Gardening Book

Plant seedsPlant seeds

Add waterAdd water

Add fertilizerAdd fertilizer

Weed the garden Weed the garden

Check the weatherCheck the weather

Check ground Check ground moisturemoisture

Assess the harvestAssess the harvest

Review data Review data summary of learner summary of learner inputs against resultsinputs against results

Objects Needed

Learner RoleLearner Role

To manipulate variablesTo manipulate variables Or not manipulate themOr not manipulate them Observe their own resultsObserve their own results Discover relationships between variables Discover relationships between variables

and end resultsand end results Understand these relationships through Understand these relationships through

analysis of graphs analysis of graphs

Mission FocusMission Focus

Learner Control: Learner Control: The sim results are directly affected by learner inputs. No input, no crop; once planted, if not cared for will not produce. Sim will proceed on its own thru growing cycle once planted, without input of variables.

Design: Learner will select variables and apply them at will.

Mission Focus ContinuedMission Focus Continued

Discovery: Discovery: Experiments are provided for with two Experiments are provided for with two rows available to plant/water/fertilize. Learner may rows available to plant/water/fertilize. Learner may vary variables between the rows and observe the vary variables between the rows and observe the resultsresults

Explanation: Explanation: The results of the simulation activity will The results of the simulation activity will be displayed numerically, pictorially and graphically, be displayed numerically, pictorially and graphically, allowing them to recognize data in multiple forms. allowing them to recognize data in multiple forms. This data will also provide them with an opportunity This data will also provide them with an opportunity to understand how the use of variables throughout to understand how the use of variables throughout the simulation affected the sim resultsthe simulation affected the sim results

OperationsOperations

Learner activities: Learner activities: Learner will plant crop, water Learner will plant crop, water crop, fertilize crop, weed crop, harvest crop. crop, fertilize crop, weed crop, harvest crop. Learner will also have access to a gardening book Learner will also have access to a gardening book for reference. Learner will view data reports of for reference. Learner will view data reports of results of inputs.results of inputs.

Simulation will capture data for number of Simulation will capture data for number of applications of each variable, adjust visuals based applications of each variable, adjust visuals based on cycle and variable effects.on cycle and variable effects.

DatabasesDatabasesGrowing Period - simulation cycles ResultsIf >1 sec, <31 sec = Week 1 Optimum water conditions 1 application per week If >30 sec, <61 sec = Week 2 SM = W x <2 x 60 seconds = plant2If >60 sec, <91 sec = Week 3 SM = W x 0 >60 seconds = plant1If >90 sec, <121 sec = Week 4 SM = W x >7 = plant 3If >120 sec, <151 sec = Week 5If >150 sec, <181 sec = Week 6 Optimum fertilizer 2 applications totalIf >180 sec, <111 sec = Week 7 F x 1 = plant 2If >110 sec, <141 sec = Week 8 F x 2 = plant 3

F x >2 = plant 1

Formula Variables Optimum weeds = zeroSM = soil moisture WD x >60 seconds = plant 2W = water WD x >120 seconds = plant 1F = fertilizer WD x <60 seconds = plant 3WD = weedPlant1=brown, dead Plant1 no changePlant2= yellow Plant2 decrease in size by 10% each cyclePlant3=healthy Plant3 increase in size by 10% each cycleH = harvest

Optimum conditions = highest yield= five (Plant3) per row.Graphs Yield = # of Plant3 at end of simulationF x #applications x 8 cyclesW x #applications x 8 cyclesH x #Plant3 x 8 cyclesWD x #not removed x 8 cycles

InterfacesInterfaces

OpeningOpening Student ObjectivesStudent Objectives TutorialTutorial

SimulationSimulation Closing: Closing:

Data ReportingData Reporting GraphsGraphs

Scenes: Opening Objectives Scenes: Opening Objectives

Scenes: Opening TutorialScenes: Opening Tutorial

Learner ActionsLearner Actions

Learner controls; direct

manipulation

Instructional SupportInstructional Support

Instructor guideInstructor guide

Linear content via Gardening BookLinear content via Gardening Book

Help functionsHelp functions

HyperlinksHyperlinks

Results analysis via graphsResults analysis via graphs

VariablesVariables

Click this:

For the weekly weather report:

Saturday partly sunny, 65 degreesSunday cloudy, 62 degreesMonday sunny, 70 degreesTuesday rain, 63 degreesWednesday rain, 62 degreesThursday, sunny, 72 degreesFriday, sunny, 71 degrees

Scenes: Help FeaturesScenes: Help Features

Gardening Book Table of Contents

Corn

Lettuce

Fertilizer

Plant Diseases/Problems

Feedback and ClosingFeedback and Closing

Feedback provided throughout simulation by visual cues: plants will thrive (grow larger) or turn yellow and shrink or turn brown and disappear

At completion of simulation, learner will see how well they achieved the goal with numerical and pictorial representations of harvest

Graphs documenting the learner’s use of variables against harvest results are provided for further discussion and reflection

Scene: Closing