Spreading the Word

[gallaher@teleport.com (Ed Gallah]

Gene - I like the online University idea! Really

But suppose we dont worry for now about credits and grants.


>I have a feeling there is more than sufficient talent, frustrated with their
>current environment, poised just waiting for an opportunity to do this.

I dont know if this is correct, but I have a strong hunch that it is.

Suppose we (?) set up a web page that is designed around a typical college
catalog, with all the same departments. This page would provide links to
all the "departments". (More on compartments below.)

Id like to volunteer as the "dean" of biological sciences. Im already in
the midst of setting up a "Center for Biological System Dynamics", with a
web page and mail list like this one. Suppose I solicit topics, story
problems, and models from colleagues around the world, and post them in the
Biological Sciences Department, with links to sub pages?

Others could do this for engineering, chemistry, physics, economics, etc.
Id guess that we could gradually build up a very large storehouse of
models, even if they were limited to 5 or 6 stocks for reasonable
simplicity. I have long thought that a text covering all the situations in
a standard high school physics book, or 1st year coolege physics book,
would be a blast.

Id like to write a book someday on biological system dynamics, but finding
a publisher (when they dont see a market for such courses) would be yet
another uphill battle I dont have time for.

In this case, we dont need a publisher. Just do it!

The development of these models could be done sloppy, or it could actually
be done quite well. Suppose we solicit 2-3 peer reviewers who test the
models and the background materials. And nothing gets posted until it
passes this review?

We could of course allow un-reviewed discussion sessions, but things that
get published should first meet some stated criteria.

We could have a System Dynamics department, which provides the basic
didactic criteria for the modeling process, etc., in addition to
discipline-oriented applied SD materials.

Why does it need accreditation if it is done with quality?

ed
Ed Gallaher
gallaher@teleport.com

[CrbnBlu@aol.com]

Ed,

Sorry about the delayed response. Its been one of those days!

I appreciate your comments on the SUN idea. And yes I think it appropriate
not to worry about credits and grants at the moment. At this point Im
collecting bits and pieces of information which we can evaluate later. I
fully realize that some of the concerns will be appropriate for short term
consideration and some more appropriate for longer term consideration.

I made the comment about sufficient frustrated talent based on the number of
individuals I seem to recall on various mail lists who indicated they had
attempted to pursue course development and training from a systems
perspective and been thwarted by the traditional environment.

A web page has already been set up for SUN. Currently it contains the various
bits and pieces of thoughts and concerns that have been coming my way. Ive
also included a list of individuals that have expressed interest. Its a
short list and seems to be growing.

The web page should be uploaded by noon EST on Fri.

http://www.radix.net/~crbnblu/sun.html

As far as volunteering for "dean" of biological sciences. Since youre the
first to volunteer for something specific I guess its yours. Your page
organization sounds good. Please take a look at the links off of:

http://www.radix.net/~crbnblu/concepts.html

I did this before the SUN idea popped up as it just seemed a sensible way to
link togethere all the diverse links I was coming across on the net. Let me
know what you think of the System and Domains pieces...

In this day an age, or should I say our technological times, the whole idea
of the long and exasperating process of searching out and negotiating with
publishers (if you can even get them interested) consumes enough time in
which one could write another book.

Some kind of peer review would seem sensible to ensure quality of content.
And does it need acredidation? I guess it would depend on what market one
intended to target with the offering, which is another topic for discussion.

Send more thoughs to digest... and check the web page on Fri. if you can. I
should have info on the e-mail list in a day or so.

Gene Bellinger
CrbnBlu@aol.com
http://www.radix.net/~crbnblu/