Peer Review

advanced search materials‎|advanced search members‎|search other libraries

Home

Communities

Learning Materials

Member Directory

My Profile

About Us


Peer Review	Become a Member \| Log In

Woods

Ratings

Overall Rating:
Content Quality:
Effectiveness:
Ease of Use:

Reviewed:	May 20, 2002 by Biology Editorial Board
Overview:	"Woods" is one of several simulations from Yale University's Center for Computational Ecology. The program uses Gecko, which is an individual-based ecological simulator for modeling ecosystem dynamics. Gecko Woods is a forest growth simulator created for student use in labs and research projects for a course in Landscape Ecology. When the program is activated, circles representing three different species of trees (each color-coded) begin to grow within rectangles indicating areas in which there are nutrients available for growth. The dot in the middle of the circle is the tree trunk, and the outer circle the crown. The brown rectangle is the area in which there are nutrients for trees to grow. Parameters that can be selected include site nutrient gradients, habitat fragmentation, tree shadow darkness, maximum size of tree, and disturbances such as fires or hurricanes. Sometimes trees spontaneously die, and their circle disappears. The time frame represents one year of growth. Menus beside the model provide discussion, assignments, exploration, options, details, help, and references; whereas top menu buttons enable users to vary scenarios, parameters, and steps throughout the simulation. Graphical representations, using Java Applets, also allow visualization of basal area and population size.
Target Student Population:	College
Type of Material:	Simulation
Technical Requirements:	Java enabled browser

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Quality of Content: (4.60)(4.00) = 4.3

Layout fairly well designed

Material complete allowing many factors to be tested in a single simulation

Accurate with excellent references to justify simulations

Good use of simulation with text annotations available in side menu

Graphics are straightforward

Concerns:

Requires significant time to set up parameters of a simulation and
understand the program

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Potential Effectiveness: (4.75)(4.50) = 4.6

A set of problems and assignments are provided with directions on how to set the simulation

Great resource for ecosystem modeling

Graphics are good but could be converted to 3-D to make more engaging for students

Excellent use of discussion, assignments, help, and references in side menu

Very interactive

Ability to vary animations enriches learning experience

Concerns:

May be a little too complex for beginning college students

Additional links providing basic information about ecosystem modeling would better prepare some students for experiencing the simulation

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Usability: (4.25)(4.00) = 4.1

Instructions are lengthy but can be inferred by automated simulation

Easy to navigate

Average speed, but good for Java Applet

Side menus contribute excellent documentation of the simulation

Top menus provide good control of animations and variation of simulations

No defective links were found

Concerns:

Not immediately clear; user must familiarize themselves with the
program

Directions on how to use this simulator should be more intuitive

Other Issues and Comments:

Overall Rating: (4.53)(4.17) = 4.3

--%>