CMST Challenge

The CMST Challenge offers teachers and students the opportunity to compete in a collaborative setting, using computer modeling software to solve real world problems.

Part 1: A Project-based Competition

Beginners Group (those with a single summer participation):

Teams are comprised of two teachers and two to four students working on a single project together.

Advanced Group (those with two or more summer participation):

CMST Teachers in the Advanced Group are expected to involve a whole classroom in a team project or individual ones. More than one teacher can team up.

Teams are to:

Select a topic of interest relevant to the curriculum
Identify the specific problem(s) to be investigated
Research the issue/gather data
Choose software package from Stella, AgentSheets or Interactive Physics
Construct a computer simulation model
Use the simulation to solve the problem(s), draw conclusions, make predictions

Project must include:

A clear statement of the problem
A paragraph description of the project
A paragraph justification for modeling software used
2-3 page paper that includes:
- group planning and decision making procedures
- division of labor
- design and execution of tasks
- problems encountered
- evaluation of results
- summary of experience
Poster presentation
Electronic demo of project