practical applications of systems thinking and stella in the high school setting presented by:...
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Practical Applications of Systems Thinking
and STELLA in the High School Setting
Presented by:
Jeremy Merritt, Mark ClementeVSTE 2009
What is a system?
“A system is an interconnected set of elements that is coherently organized in a way that achieves something”
Donella H. Meadows, Thinking in Systems: A Primer (Chelsea Green Publishing, 2008) 11
Examples of Systems
Digestive Forest Community
Slinky
Bathtubs
0
5
10
15
20
25
9AM
Water in Bathtub
A bathtub is a simple system
Bathtub System
11:46 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009
Water in bathtub
0.00 7.50 15.00 22.50 30.00Minutes
1:
1:
1:
0
15
30
1: Bathtub
1
1
1
1
Draining
Understanding Behavior Over Time
Dynamic Equilibrium
11:34 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009
Water in bathtub
0.00 7.50 15.00 22.50 30.00Minutes
1:
1:
1:
24
25
26
1: Bathtub
1 1 1 1
Stocks & Flows
The bathtub is a stock
Bathtub
Stocks & Flows
The faucet and the drain are flows
Bathtub
adding water draining water
Modeling Systems with STELLA
Other Stocks & Flows
Same thing, different units
Bank Account
making deposits
C02 In
Atmosphere
adding c02Self Esteem
building
Feedback Loops
A feedback loop occurs when a stock affects its flows
Bank accountearning interest
interest rate
R
Bank accountearning interest
interest rate
Feedback Loops
Reinforcing Loops
R
Populationbirths
birth rateR
Size of Snowballadding snow
speed
R
Behavior vs. Data
It’s important to focus on behavior when you’re thinking about systems
Bank accountearning interest
interest rate
R1
1
1
1
Feedback Loops
Balancing Loop
Room Temp
adding heatfrom furnace
thermostat setting
difference betweendesired and actual temp
Balancing Loops
0.00 15.00 30.00 45.00 60.00Time
1:
1:
1:
50
250
450
1: Population
1
1
11
Populationreproducing
birth rate
dying
death rate
Applying Systems Thinking in the Classroom
Use Systems Thinking Stock & flow Mapping Use Model-based Concepts Materials
Non-software-based Software-based
Earth Systems Science & STELLA
An example: GLOBE Carbon Cycle Program
• Bringing cutting edge research & techniques into the classroom
• STELLA models that use input data collected by students and researchers
• Focus on using technology & modeling to give students an understanding of local and global carbon cycles
Lessons in Mathematics
Lessons in Mathematics: A Dynamic Approach by Diana Fisher provides a set of materials that can be used to supplement current curriculum for Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus and Calculus classes.
Mark Clemente!
MODSIM Initiative
Our Company Mission
“ isee systems is in business to improve the way the world works, by creating Systems Thinking-based products that enable people to increase their capacity to think, learn, communicate, and act more systemically.”
―Barry Richmond
Contact Us!
• isee systems– www.iseesystems.com– blog.iseesystems.com
• Jeremy Merritt– [email protected]– Twitter @jeremyx
• Mark Clemente– [email protected]