They are introduced to modeling dynamic systems by studying the simple harmonic oscillator. The document moves students steadily along the development of the attractor concept and into models of oscillatory systems. Rabbits and lynxes provide concrete images for developing skills with the numerical integration methods in Mathcad. All the introductory material leads systematically toward the Brusselator model for chemical reactions and the Oregonator model for the Belousov-Zhabotinsky oscillating reaction. Previous work in the document permits the presentation at this point to be more concise.
Students can fill in documentation as they study the material.
Throughout the document student exercises focus study. The document ends with an extensive list of references for oscillating reactions. The three documents presented in this column are ideal additions to the active learning classroom. While they can be used as lecture presentation materials, I think they will not provide as strong a learning experience when used in lecture. I personally will use these materials with my students as independent study projects.