In the first days of this 2-week training course, participants will learn and practice conceptual modeling through an introduction to a graphical conceptual modeling language called UML (Unified Modeling Language), a protocol called ODD (Overview, Design concepts, Details), a co-design methodology called ARDI (Actors, Resources, Dynamics, Interactions). An introduction to 3 platforms (NetLogo, GAMA, Cormas) through a tutorial on how to implement from scratch a simple ABM is given to all participants. After selecting the platform on which they wish to improve their skills, participants follow a directed practical course which teaches them how to code a benchmark model.

During the next stage of the training session, participants are invited to form groups of 2 to 4 people according to their interests. A set of typical situations and problems that can be studied with ABM will be proposed by the trainers. Choosing one of them, each group will design, implement and explore a model inspired from this situation. We encourage that in each group, framing and conceptual modeling is done collectively but that each participant implements the model on one platform. It means that ideally there will be in each group only 1 conceptual model, but as many implementations (possibly on different platforms) as participants.