WORKSHOP – STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Agent-Based Modeling of
Educational and Social Systems
Spiro Maroulis and Paulo Blikstein
Sponsored by the Stanford Interdisciplinary Training Program in Quantitative
Education Policy Research, with funding from the Institute of Education Sciences
Maroulis & Blikstein
Instructors
Spiro Maroulis
Assistant Professor, School of Public Affairs
Arizona State University
email: s-maroulis@kellogg.northwestern.edu
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Faculty/Directory/Maroulis_Spiro
Paulo Blikstein
Assistant Professor, School of Education and (by courtesy) School of Engineering
Stanford University
email: paulob@stanford.edu
http://tltl.stanford.edu
Workshop Website
http://ies2011.stanford.edu
Email lists
Instructors (Spiro, Paulo & TAs): ies2011faculty@lists.stanford.edu
All students (excluding instructors and TAs): ies2011students@lists.stanford.edu
Workshop Description and Goals
This workshop begins with the premise that we are all modelers in the sense that we construct
explanations in our heads to simplify situations in which we want to answer a question. These may be
personal questions, such as, "What dissertation topic should I choose?" or "Is this the right job for me?"
They also may be questions about policy and organizations, such as, "Should we implement a meritbased pay system for teachers?" or “What conditions would lead to a school choice system that
‘works’?” When we observe economic and social systems, gather information, draw inferences, and
attempt to predict future outcomes, we are engaged in a process of informal modeling. This workshop
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will introduce how and why you might convert such informal models and intuitions into more tangible,
formal models you can ‘run,’ explore, or perhaps use to try to change some small corner of the world.
The theoretical and methodological basis for this workshop comes from the emerging field of complex
systems – a field that studies the dynamics of systems, such as organizations, whose behavior is the
consequence of many different interdependent agents, and can be difficult to research using
traditional analytical and empirical methods. To investigate the behavior of a natural or social system
over time, complex systems research often makes use of computational agent-based models. In
particular, agent-based models are used to discover the emergence of macro-level properties from the
individual-level actions of the agents, as well as identify leverage points in a social systems – points
where a small, local change can have a disproportionate system-level impact.
While there are many good reasons for creating agent-based models of social systems, this workshop
places emphasis on one in particular: the process of computational modeling can help you improve
your own mental models of how economic and social systems work. To this end, the goals of the
workshop are to:
 introduce you to a “complex systems” perspective on educational policy,
 help you gain skill in using NetLogo agent-based modeling environment, a popular and
powerful complex systems modeling tool, and
 increase your interest in computational modeling while getting you to think about how
modeling may help you address problems that matter to you.
No prior modeling or programming knowledge is required.
Pre-Workshop Preparation
 Read
 Kelly, K. (1994). Out of control: The new biology of machines, social systems, and the
economic world. Perseus Books. Chapters 1 & 2. Available online at:
http://www.kk.org/outofcontrol/contents.php
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 Maroulis, S., Guimera, R., Petry, H., Gomez, L., Amaral, L.A.N., Wilensky, U.
(2010). “Complex Systems View on Educational Policy Research.” Science,
Volume 300, Issue 6000.
 Download
 Wilensky, U. (1999). NetLogo. http://ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/. Center
for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern
University, Evanston, IL.
Please bring your laptops with NetLogo installed to the session. NetLogo can be
downloaded for free and can be installed on either a Mac, PC, or Linux.
 Do
 NetLogo Tutorial #1: Models
 NetLogo Tutorial #2: Commands
 NetLogo Tutorial #3: Procedures
Links to all three tutorials can be found on the far left-hand side of this webpage:
http:/ccl.northwestern.edu/netlogo/docs/
 Fill pre-workshop survey
 A pre-workshop form is available at this URL: http://bit.ly/l9rnV2
This survey gets you thinking about an idea for an agent-based model of your
choosing that you will begin building during the workshop. Please complete it by
Saturday, June 25, 12pm.
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Agenda
Day 1
Class
Topic
Duration
Staff
I
Introductory Exercise: The Beer Game
1 hour
Maroulis
II
Introduction to Complex Systems
Topics include emergence; applications in the natural sciences;
pedagogical applications inside classrooms. Examples include
canonical models from the natural sciences as well as Stanford
student projects from Prof. Blikstein’s course.
1 hour
Blikstein
Break
15 mins
Building Agent-Based Models, Example
In this instructor-led interactive session, we will build a simple
model together. Topics covered include defining equilibrium
in dynamic systems; defining agents and behavioral rules in
NetLogo; networking agents; and conducting computational
experiments.
1.5 hours
Lunch
1 hour
Building Agent-Based Models, Example (cont.)
1.5 hours
Break
15 mins
IV
Modeling Economic and Social Systems
We will discuss the motivation for computational modeling in
social science. This will include a review several “classic” social
science ABMs, as well as a more recent and specific applications
to educational policy.
1 hour
Maroulis
V
Building Agent-Based Models, Lab
In this “lab” session, you will begin working on a model of your
choosing. After providing some initial guidance and practical
tips, the instructors will be available to answer individual
questions as you develop your model.
1 hour
Maroulis,
Blikstein,
doctoral
students
III
III
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Agent-Based Modeling of Educational and Social Systems
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Day 2
Class
V
Topic
Duration
Building Agent-Based Models, Lab (cont.)
Participants continue to develop their own models with
instructor assistance.
3 hours
Lunch
1 hour
Staff
Maroulis,
Blikstein,
doctoral
students
Maroulis,
Blikstein,
doctoral
students
Building Agent-Based Models, Lab (cont.)
Participants continue to develop their own models with
instructor assistance.
1.5 hours
Break
15 mins
VII
Conducting Computational Experiments
Topics covered include relationship to social experiments,
regression analysis, and hypothesis testing; model calibration,
verification, and validation; and practical tips on importing and
exporting data to statistical packages.
1 hour
Maroulis
VIII
Building Agent-Based Models, Lab (cont.)
Participants continue to develop their own models with
instructor assistance. Emphasis may shift from model
development to model experimentation.
1.5 hours
Maroulis,
Blikstein,
doctoral
students
Duration
Staff
VI
Day 3
Class
Topic
IX
Building Agent-Based Models, Lab (cont.)
Participants continue to develop their own models with
instructor assistance. Emphasis may shift from model
development to model experimentation.
2 hours
X
Student Model Presentations
1 hour
XI
Wrap-Up and Conclusion
1 hour
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Maroulis,
Blikstein,
doctoral
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Agent-Based Modeling of Educational and Social Systems