Subject: Oscillatory systems in K-12 curriculum

Posted by Lees N. Stuntz on 9/19/2010

Message:

Dear Members of the K-12 List,

We would like to request some help from you. Jay Forrester has proposed a project for K-12 education that starts with the creation of a series of models by an experienced modeler. It will go on to create accessible on-line curriculum, possibly simulations or games that will be of interest to K-12 students and teachers.
It would be best to think of this objective as being more a cultural subject. Start by thinking what we can do for students by starting with a basic understanding of stocks and flows and feedback loops. Then proceed by thinking how we can create Barry Richmond's "systems citizen" kind of personality in large numbers of students.
Perhaps an analogy is partly correct and useful: A person can live in a house and effectively use it even if the person is not a sufficiently skilled plumber or electrician to build the house. Or, one can become involved in a video game even if not able to program such.
We are visualizing a process that embeds in students the characteristics of complex systems using a combination of models, references to classic literature, events from history, and incorporating major events from the newspapers and local communities. The models would have intervention points for the usual policy mistakes as well as policies to demonstrate improved behavior. For each kind of model we would want multiple manifestations with nomenclature to fit different kinds of subjects and situations. In working with these models and relating them to real-life situations we hope and expect to create citizens who would make better judgments in real life.
All of this will require much thought, and trials of various ways to use the material.
How can you help?
To start, we have zeroed in on one of the characteristics of complex systems which Jay Forrester delineated in his paper Learning through System Dynamics as Preparation for the 21st Century, pages 14-19. We are creating a series of models to illustrate that the "Cause of the problem is within the system." To illustrate this we are first of all addressing oscillatory systems. We need to know what models of oscillatory systems would be useful to K-12 students.
If you can help us discover which would be the most useful systems to model for K-12 education, please send me ( Lees Stuntz) an e-mail and I will send you the spreadsheet we are using to gather information. The spreadsheet should only take about 10-15 minutes of your time to fill out- and it would be a tremendous help to us to gather this information.
Thank you in advance!
Take care,
Lees