For novices, this course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the technique and its use. For experienced modelers, the course will draw on skills they already possess but we will show them how to adapt and apply them to the new modality. For reviewers and others who deal with models but don’t necessarily build them, the course will provide the skills required to review, understand, access and work with these DICE tools.

Pre-Requisites: Attendees should be reasonably familiar with basic Excel syntax, formulas and tables. A link will be provided to download all materials for the course, including the DICE engine. The class will intercalate concepts with practical applications. Examples will be used to illustrate each aspect and a series of exercises will allow participants to work through the concepts and their implementation. Students can follow along as the instructor builds a full model.

Learning Objectives: After attending this short course, a student should be able to:
1. Describe what simulation is and how it can be used for modeling the consequences of medical and public health decisions
2. Design, build and run a simulation using the DICE approach for MS Excel