Marine Biology Simulation Case Study

Introduction

Case studies are a teaching tool used in many disciplines.  They have been a part of the AP® Computer Science curriculum since the 1994-95 academic year.  They give students an opportunity to:

• Read source code written by someone else.
• Work with a program of significant length.
• Become familiar with good coding, design, and documentation practice.
• Learn about testing in a non-trivial context.
• Think through design and implementation tradeoffs.
• Experience an approximation of the master/apprentice relationship.

The Java-based Marine Biology Simulation case study presents a simplified version of a simulation program that could be used to help marine biologists study fish movement in a small, bounded environment such as a lake or bay.  It was a required part of the AP Computer Science  A and AB curricula from 2003-2004 through 2006-2007. (Computer Science A students were expected to be familiar with the material in chapters 1 - 4 of the case study narrative; AB students were expected to be familiar with the material in all 5 chapters.)

Basic links for downloading and using the Marine Biology Simulation case study:

• Distribution file (.zip file) for the Marine Biology Simulation case study
• Explanation of the contents of the distribution file for the Marine Biology Simulation case study
• You can also view or download the narrative (PDF format) on its own.
• Teacher resources

As you get started, you should:

• Read the index.html file in the JavaMBS folder to become more familiar with the files and folders in the distribution. (This is the same explanation as in the link above.)
• Look in the ExecutionInformation folder to find out how to compile and run the Marine Biology Simulation program on your system.
• Print the narrative (unless you are going to read it online).  The first four chapters (with Appendices A, B, C, E, and G) use concepts typically found in a CS 1 course, while Chapter 5 introduces some more advanced data structures that might not be covered until CS 2, especially in the exercises.
• You may wish to read or print the help file for the program's graphical user interface (MBSHelp.html in the Documentation folder).
• As you work through the case study narrative, you will use the files in the DataFiles folder, read the class documentation in the Documentation folder, and read and modify the files in the Code folder.

*AP and Advanced Placement are registered trademarks of the College Entrance Examination Board, which has not endorsed this website.
Last modified on 5 January 2019 by Alyce Brady.