Subject: Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again!

Posted by Alice Squires on 1/21/2008

Message:

Hi all,

I am now narrowing in my dissertation topic to developing a 'guideline' that organizations like the Waters Foundation (see link below), and systems thinking teachers, can use to determine which systems thinking concepts, and at what level of detail, are appropriate for a particular grade or age group based on 'their' cognitive maturity. I define systems thinking as critical thinking that leverages a knowledge of systems concepts - like emergence, non-linear cause/effect, pattern recognition, etc... The link below shows more the type of 'systems thinking' concepts that I am working with. Do you think a 'guideline' for age appropriate systems thinking education will be useful? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Also, one of my first papers is going to be on K-12 Educational Programs that Teach Systems Thinking. The "Systems Thinking in Schools" Waters Foundation program seems to be one of the prominent programs, does anyone know of any others that I can include in my paper? Here is the link:

http://www.watersfoundation.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.habits

Take Care,
--
Alice

Follow Ups:

Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again! - Jared Faulb 1/24/2008 
Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again! - Roy Greenhalgh 1/25/2008
Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again! - Jared Faulb 1/25/2008
Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again! - Richard Langheim 1/23/2008 
Cognitive Maturity and Systems Thinking, Again! - Alex Leus 1/22/2008