Integrating the Electronic Desktop into the Natural Sciences

Curriculum Development Project at California State University, Los Angeles

CoopEvolve

CoopEvolve simulates a game-theoretic model for the evolution of cooperative behavior. In one window, students interact with the computer in a game of cooperation/defection. The user and computer decide simultaneously to cooperate or defect, with payoffs determined by the payoff matrix. The goal is for students to maximize their payoffs. Students quickly determine that the computer uses a strategy of "tit-for-tat;" cooperation on the first move and a repeat of the user's last move. In a second window students simulate an evolutionary model where "tit-for-tat" competes with three other strategies: "always cooperate," "always defect," and "random." Parameters such as the payoffs, initial frequencies, number of trials can be varied to see their effects on the outcome of evolution. A screen image of a CoopEvolve session appears below. CoopEvolve was written by Dr. Robert Desharnais.

Click to download full resolution image (50.3 KB.)

The Electronic Desktop Project is about improving the way science is taught and learned by bringing the power of advanced workstation technology to introductory science students in both major and general education classes. This involves changing the way in which instruction is delivered using multi-media electronic mail, custom written visualization applications, powerful commercial software packages, and easy-to-use graphical applications that bring the resources of the Internet into the electronic classroom. This project has been funded by grants USE 9153162, DUE 9156142 and DUE 9455428 from the National Science Foundation. For more information contact Dr. Robert Desharnais (biology), (213) 343-2056, rdeshar@calstatela.edu, or Dr. Gary Novak (geology), (213) 343-2406, gnovak@calstatela.edu, California State University, Los Angeles, California, 90032.
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