
What is a System? Donella Meadows, author of Thinking in Systems, defines a system as "A set of elements or parts that is coherently organized and interconnected in a pattern or structure that produces a characteristic set of behaviors, often classified as its “function” or Systems thinking focuses on how the things being studied interact with the other constituents of the system. What is Systems Thinking? Traditional analysis focuses on the individual pieces of what is being studied. Identify the three key components of all systems Understand the role of mental models in the thinking process Recognize the habits of systems thinkers Compare the basic building blocks of system models Use models/simulation to make predictions and draw conclusions Select strategies and resources for implementing systems thinking in your classroom Notes: donella meadows books components of a system, elements, interconnections, function changes of function profoundly change the system, structure is the source of behavior, thinking: construct mental model and simulate to draw conclusions and make decisions see slide: habits of a system thinker excerpts from Patrick Woessner’s presentation:
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In this session, learn how to use free software models to empower students to dynamically visualize, manipulate, and communicate how complex systems and ideas in science, economics, literature, sociology, and other disciplines really work. Louis, MO USA Description: How does climate change influence an ecosystem over time? Would Hamlet’s fate have changed if he’d killed Claudius earlier? How do oil prices respond to shocks in supply and demand? These questions can be explored through Systems Thinking, an approach to problem solving that examines how parts relate to the whole and may be used to study any kind of system: natural, scientific, engineered, human, or conceptual. Introduction to Systems Thinking Presenter: Patrick Woessner, CIT, MICDS, St.
