Volume 29 | Number 2 | March 2020
Thinking about Infections

As we deal with a world-wide epidemic of a novel virus, there are many ways to help our students cope. One of them is just talking about what is going on, how they are feeling, the practicalities of their lives in a quarantine situation, and how to think about infections from a 10,000perspective (meta-cognition.) Another is figuring out what useful enrichment activities would be helpful and fun.

This simulation, especially for younger students, is a start in meta-cognitive understanding of a large and scary topic. Sensitivity in introducing something like this is needed, but may actually give some students a way of handling their upside-down world. This short lesson is taken from the Shape of Change , ( The Infection Game ). Explore other CLE Simulations on the CLE website. We are in the process of converting some of the CLE simulations to the isee Exchange , a great resource for accessible simulations. A simulator for COVID-19 is available on isee.

Other resources that may be of interest to your students who are on home-stays:
  • Splash! - our small simulation app for hand-held devices. Fun to play with and helpful for learning to create little, simple models. A guide called SplashCards is available for purchase from the CLE website.


  • Model Mysteries - An Exploration of Vampires, Zombies, and Other Fantastic Scenarios to Make the World a Better Place. Available to purchase in book format or downloadable.

  • Micro-lessons - Short lessons focused on encouraging students (of all ages) to use systems thinking to solve problems.

Good luck to everyone with the information overload and the fear this situation is causing. Anything we can do to lessen the fear our students are experiencing, is so much for the better. If anyone has ideas about what would be useful from the CLE, we would love to hear from you.

DynamiQue ST is one of the multitude of events which has been cancelled in order to help stem the spread of the virus. We again thank the System Dynamics Group at WPI for their willingness to sponsor this student event and look forward to the next time we can schedule it in the future.


DynamiQue ST is jointly sponsored by the Creative Learning Exchange and Innovation Academy Charter School.
The Creative Learning Exchange
 978-635-9797 |  www.clexchange.org