" Systems Thinking for K-12 Teachers "
A New Course at the Graduate School
of Education and Allied Professions
Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut
Albert Madwed
Professor
BEI School of Engineering of Fairfield University
Director: Manufacturing Engineering & Industrial Management Programs
Adjunct Professor
Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions of Fairfield University
Consultant
21st Century Technology Associates
Bridgeport, Connecticut - (203) -366-5436
Abstract
This Graduate Level Course for K-12 Teachers will introduce them to the General Systems
Theory Method of Thinking This thought process is different from the analytical Mechanistic
Method of Thinking from the Renaissance Period which produced the Industrial
Revolution. The use of General System Theory , System Thinking and System Dynamics is
aimed at bringing cohesion, meaning and interdependance to the K-12 curriculum.This
process can introduce thinking, curiosity, creativity , and real world meaningful learning
experiences into the classroom. The K-12 education establishment in the U. S. which is
criticized for not preparing the students properly for college and the workplace could make a
giant step forward by using Systems Thinking across the curriculum in the classroom.
This is an introductory course in System Thinking and the Philosophy of the Systems View
of Reality. The history of the thought process of Systems Thinking and its application in the
past , the present and the future is explored. Comparison with the Mechanistic View of
Reality is presented. In depth studies of open, closed and feedback systems are developed
and applied to social science, ecology, economics, biology. health care. physics. chemistry.
mathematics, literature, government , business and etc.. Some of the graphical and software
tool which have been developed for the study of systems will be used . About 50% of the
course will involve working on the applications of system thinking and the computer
simulation of systems.
A new text was written for this course. The following twelve overheads summarizes the
materials and structure of this course. The text will be in draft form by the middle of 1996.
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Systems Thinking - System
Dynamics for K-12 Teachers
Presented at The 14th International System
Dynamics Conference in
Cambridge,Massachusetts
July 22-25, 1996
Albert Madwed
Fairtield University, Fairfield CT. &
21st Century Technology Associates
Bridgeport, CT. USA
1
What is Wrong With K-12
Education in The USA
© The curriculum is divided into specialties .
© The curriculum does not stress the real world.
© There is poor linkage between subjects .
¢ The graduates are not prepared for the ever-
changing workplace .
How can a Systems Thinking -
System Dynamics Course
Improve the Education System
© Develop a study process applicable to all
subjects .
© Develop a real world view of subject matter.
© Teach the students how to think .
© Prepare the students for the ever-changing
workplace .
Systems Thinking-System
Dynamics Course Text Material
© History and philosophy of Mechanistic
Thinking
© History and philosophy of Systems Thinking
‘© Development of Loop Diagrams, Modelling,
and Dynamic Simulation
© Computer applications of Systems Thinking-
System Dynamics
“Renaissance - One” From the
Dark Ages to the 1920’s
@ Pre-"Renaissance - One” Time Period
# The Giants of “Renaissance - One” Thinking
~ Galileo Galilei
- Rene Descartes
- Sir Isaac Newton
The Thought Processes of
“Renaissance - One” Are
© Analysis by Division
@ Determinism
‘© Cause and Effect Thinking
@ Mechanistic Thinking
The Past,Present and Future of
“Renaissance - Two”
© The Uncertainty Principle and Quantum
Theory
© Cybernetics
© The Digital Computer and Information Storage
© General System Theory and System
Dynamics
‘@ The Internet and World Wide Web
@ The Future Developments 77222777
z
General System Theory and
System Dynamics
Ludwig Von Bertalanffy’s General System
Theory
@ Jay Forrester’s Industrial Dynamics and
Dynamo Software
@ Arnold Tustin’s “The Mechanism of Economic
Theory”
© The work of Boulding, Ashby, Lotka, G.P.
Richardson, Verhulst ,and etc.
Discussion and Application of
Software
© Dynamo Software
© IThink - Stella Software
‘* Powersim Software
Discussion of Classical
Examples
© Coffee cup cooling
© Heating system of a house
© Prey- Predator dynamics
© Epidemic dynamics
© Hamiet
© Fish- fishing boat dynamic
Course Projects- Students
Develop New System Studies
Such As
Acombined Prey-Predator and Epidemic
System
A Combined Prey-Predator and Drought
‘System
@ A Shakespeare Play’s System similar to the
Hamlet Study
Industrial Systems similar to the classical
Industrial Dynamics System
@ Etc.
The Future of Systems Thinking
and System Dynamics at
Fairfield University
© A second course for K-12 teachers
© Courses for the BE! Schoo! of Engineering
© Courses for the Graduate School of Business
Management
© Courses for the Masters Degree in the
Management of Technology
© Establishment of a Systems Thinking Institute
to integrate Systems Thinking and System
Dynamics into all degree program
2
334
Books and Background Material for Preparing System Course For K-12 Teachers
Abbreviated listing
Books
Principles of Systems -
Industrial Dynamics Jay W. Forrester
The Fifth Discipline -- Peter Senge
The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook --- Peter Senge
Trends in General Systems Theory ----- George J. Klir
Systems Theory and Scientific Philosophy ----- John Bryant
The Systems View of The World ---- Ervin Laszlo
Uncommon Sence ( Life and Thought of Ludwig von Bertalanffy ) ---- Mark Davidson
General System Theory ------ Ludwig von Bertalanffy
The History and Status of General Systems theory ----- Ludwig von Bertalanffy
Robots, Men and Minds ----- Ludwig von Betalanffy
The World as a Total System ----- Kenneth E. Boulding
Objective Knowledge ------ Karl R. Popper
Karl R. Popper Selections ----- David Miller
An Introduction to General Systems Thinking ----- Gerald M. Weinberg
Cybernetics ----- Norbert Weiner
Time Series ---- Norbert Weiner
God and Golem ---- Norbert Weiner
The Social Impact of Cybernetics ---- Charles R. Dechert (editor)
Redesigning The Future ------ Russel L. Ackoff
The Mechanism of Economic Theory ------- Arnold Tustin
Dynamics Of Growth In A Finite World ------- Dennis L. Meadows
Dynamo User's Manual ------- - A.L. Pugh Hl
Elements Of The System Method - Jorgen Randers
Introduction To Urban Dynamics - Louis Alfred and Alan Graham
Managerial Applications Of System Dynamics --- Edward B. Roberts (ed)
Study Notes In System Dynamics Michael R. Goodman
World Dynamics ( 2nd ed. )----- - Jay W. Forrester
Urban Dynamics -Jay W. Forrester
Simulation And Analysis Law and Kelton
Modeling For Learning Organizations --- John D. W. Morecroft and John D. Sterman(eds.)
Introduction To Computer Simulation -- Roberts , Andersen, Deal , Garet . and Shaffer
Introduction To System Dynamics Modeling with Dynamo -- G. Richardson and A. Pugh III
Number Series Method Of Solving Linear and Non-Linear Differential Equations -Albert Madwed
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos . M. T. Thompson and H. B. Stewart
Order Out Of Chaos -------------- -ILya Prigogine and Isabelle Stengers
Chaos . Making A New Science James Gleick
Chaos and Integrability in Nonlinear Dynamics - Michael Tabor
Introduction to Non-Linear Mechanics N. Minorsky
Digital Control Systems Theory, Hardware , Software -. C.H. Houpis and G.B. Lamont
Publications
Journals of The System Dynamics Society
Six years of the Pegasus Communication publication -- System Thinker which reports on practical
applications .
Five years of the Pegasus Communication Conference --- System Thinking and System
Modeling and System Dynamics Applications.
Proceedings of the International System Dynamics Conferences
-- Jay W. Forrester
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