Subject: Discussion at International System Dynamics Society

Posted by Cal Halliburton on 8/20/2008
In Reply To:Discussion at International System Dynamics Society Posted by Lees N. Stuntz on 8/19/2008

Message:

Dear Lees,

I'm not a long time member of this listserv and mostly lurking in the background.

I do want to congratulate you on your list of suggestions for promoting SD in K12 education.

I've seen almost all of this list before and helped create more than one of them. I've been working 20 plus years with several similar groups promoting quality tools, theory of constraints thinking processes, theory of inventive problem solving inventive methods, great books, critical thinking, issues forums, deliberative dialogue, peer mediation, and several "models of teaching and learning" to schools and teachers. I've taught staff development courses, graduate courses and coordinated school improvement projects and action research programs. All of these, including SD, are great programs, processes, materials, and methods, yet they all struggle for time and position in K12 schools and classrooms. Why?

What is the state of the system? Have you considered it? Few others have. Why?

What is the dilemma that schools and teachers face today in this era of high stakes tests and burgeoning standards?

Which systems archetype applies to the dilemma schools and teachers face today? Does one apply or does this dilemma require a unique approach? Did I notice on your list; apply systems thinking to this problem/situation? What would the analysis look like?

Best,

Cal

Follow Ups:

Discussion at International System Dynamics Society - Gary Hirsch 8/20/2008