| Comments on Future of K-12 Education (D-4900-1) |
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Author(s):
Jay Forrester |
Subject:
System Dynamics |
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There is a fundamentally different kind of pre-college education that the author, along with many others, has been pioneering for more than twenty years. The demonstration phase is now completed and it is time to launch a major implementation program to expand into a growing number of schools. This is a long-range and difficult undertaking but necessary if K-12 schools are to produce citizens who are prepared for the challenges of the future. |
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| Deeper Learning and the Common Core |
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Author(s):
Sheri Marlin |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Subtitle: Teachers learning together for student success with Systems Thinking: A thoughtful approach to the Common Core.
This booklet contains lesson plans in Early Reading, Middle School Math, and High School Non-fiction Texts.
Complex Systems Connection: Incorrect High-Leverage Policies/Short and Long Term Conflicts: Financial Planning Life Scenarios-Few things are as relevant to high school students as how they spend their money. The Robinsons and the Meltons are two families that earn the same income, live in the same neighborhood, are of the same age, and have two children each. Yet the Robinsons are six times wealthier than the Meltons. Students use systems thinking tools to analyze these real-life scenarios to determine key principles to personal wealth.
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| Modeling Dynamic Systems Section 7 |
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Author(s):
Diana Fisher |
Subject:
System Dynamics |
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The dynamics of epidemics can be used to impart an intuitive understanding of what it means to say a policy has "high leverage." Students can be tasked with conducting policy analysis to determine the leverage points in preventing an infectious illness from becoming an epidemic. Along the way they will learn why well-intensioned but low-leverage policies in real life often fail to have the desired effects in complex systems.
For some illness/disease, symptoms appear long after initial infection. Sometimes people travel great distance while infected because they are unaware of the infection. Medical "detectives" faced with an epidemic must understand how the infection spreads and how quickly. Delays in the system make this more difficult. |
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Link to the file: http://www.iseesystems.com
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| Modeling Dynamic Systems Section 8 |
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Author(s):
Diana Fisher |
Subject:
System Dynamics |
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Policy analysis gives students an opportunity to learn first-hand that complex systems are rich in feedback. They will experience the frustration of implementing well-meaning interventions, only to have them defeated by the feedback mechanisms of the system itself. They will learn why some policies have more leverage than others, and why those policies are often the most difficult to implement correctly in real life. |
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Link to the simulation: http://www.iseesystems.com
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| Shape of Change (Lesson 9): The Connection Game, including Stocks and Flows |
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Author(s):
Rob Quaden, Alan Ticotsky, & Debra Lyneis |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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From "The Shape of Change." Students play a game in which their movements around the room depend on the movements of other players.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. This lesson can be used to gain an intuitive understanding of what it means to say a policy has "low leverage." This lesson can be used to gain an intuitive understanding of what it means to say a policy has "high leverage." |
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 13: Moon Ball |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Participants attempt to improve performance by changing the structure of the system, but the action is only effective up to a point. Participants must change a mental model about the rules in order to create significant change in the system.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. Participants attempt to improve performance by changing the structure of the system, but the action is only effective up to a point. Participants must change a mental model about the rules in order to create significant change in the system. Available from Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 17: Touch Base |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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A group standing around a circle must cross, touch the middle, but avoid touching any other participants.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. Participants attempt to complete a task but may simply try to move faster rather than considering how moving slower in a more organized manner will likely get better results. Available at Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 18: Squaring the Circle |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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A group holding onto a rope must reshape the rope into a square while they are blind-folded.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. Participants attempt to complete a task but may simply try to move in isolation rather than considering how moving more holistically will likely get better results. Available from Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 28: Avalanche |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Given a pole, participants must lower the pole to the ground without losing contact with the pole or allowing washers to fall off the ends.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. As participants attempt to reach a shared goal, the tendency is to blame one another for failure rather than looking at the underlying structure of the system Available at Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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PDF
More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 30: Group Juggle |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Participants in this group activity attempt to improve performance on a particular task.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. Participants attempt to improve performance by changing the structure of the system, but the action is only effective up to a point. Participants must change a mental model about the rules in order to create significant change in the system. Available from Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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