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Papers on SD in University Courses

Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 7:04 pm
by Andrew Jones
Dear System Dynamics Folks:

Dr. Leah Greden Mathews of the University of North Carolina - Asheville
(USA) and I are writing a journal article sharing our experiences using
system dynamics to teach part of a University course on Land Economics.
We introduced behavior-over-time graphing, causal loop diagramming,
stock/flow mapping, and experimentation with a simulation model to
explore content areas such as real estate cycles, urban sprawl, and
limits to population growth.

I am writing because we are interested in learning of others' experience
using the model conceptualization and model experimentation (as opposed
to formal model-building) tools of our field to teach a specific content
area (not to teach system dynamics itself) at the University level.

So far, we have discovered the papers listed below. Do you know of
other relevant literature? Do you have any other unpublished
reflections on this question?

Thank you for your help.

Drew Jones
Sustainability Institute
apjones@sustainer.org


Bierema, Laura L., ""Systems Thinking: A new Lens for Old Problems,""
Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions, Spring 2003
Supplement 1, Vol 23, Issue 2.

Felder, Richard M. and Barbara A. Soloman, ""Systems Thinking: An
Experimental Course for College Freshmen,"" Innovative Higher Education
12(2), Spring/Summer 1988, pp.57-68.

Kahne, Stephen, ""Introducing Systems Concepts to All University
Students,"" Engineering Education, February 1980, pp.427-429.

Mandinach, Ellen B. et al, The Impact of the Systems Thinking Approach
on Teaching and Learning Activities. ETC Report Number ETC-TR-88-31.
Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ, December 1988.

Papers on SD in University Courses

Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 12:35 pm
by Kim Warren
Hi Drew - this has been pretty much my mission over the last few years
in the strategy field .. both working with executives and teaching
MBAs. Key experiences ..
- it may be different in your profession, but there's a deep reluctance
amongst managers to think numerically.
-- this may be why feedback systems thinking made such a strong start in
the early 90s, but maybe also this is why interest has stalled--
ultimately, managers needed quantitative methodologies to help to make
quantitative improvements to performance (hence perhaps the popularity
of balanced score card, value based management and so on)
- how the numbers work in stock and flow really matters in management
issues (staff development rates, customer retention and churn, and so
on), but people really struggle to see the importance of this and
understanding the arithmetic.
More at www.london.edu/faculty/kwarren

Kim Warren - London Business School
From: ""Kim Warren"" <Kim@strategydynamics.com>