NetLogo and multi-agent simulation (in introductory computer science)
Matthew T. Dickerson · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2014
This tutorial will provide an introduction to multi-agent simulation (MAS) in the NetLogo programming language, and its use in an introductory computer science class. The tutorial will have four parts: 1. an introduction to basic concepts of MAS including emergent behavior; 2. an overview of the features of the NetLogo language; 3. a sample of some specific commands and the basic NetLogo syntax; and 4. an outline and some programming tasks from an introductory computer science class. The tutorial will give participants experience with NetLogo and the principles of MAS, and an idea of how this approach could be used as an effective introductory programming class for majors or non-majors. This work is based on a three-year NSF-sported research project by PI Matthew Dickerson.