BUGBOX Mathematical Modeling Simulations
BUGBOX software is for inquiry-based learning of mathematical modeling for population dynamics. The software creates a virtual laboratory space inhabited by virtual insects. Students conduct experiments and devise mathematical models to predict the experiment results.
To use either BUGBOX program, download and unpack the zip file. Double-click on the exe file to start the program.
In BUGBOX-predator, students do experiments to find a relationship between prey density and consumption by one predator. [Version 1.1 posted on 5/27/2008.]
In BUGBOX-population, students observe the changes in the insect population to discover aspects of the insects' life cycle. They can construct a simple linear difference equation model, using their observations to estimate the parameter values. Four different scenarios give a sequence of increasing complexity.
"Boxbugs" is an introduction to the virtual world of BUGBOX_population.
Everyone is welcome to use BUGBOX for their courses. I would just appreciate an email to let me know.
BUGBOX software was written in Python, with extensive use of the pygame and pgu packages, and converted into an executable using py2exe.