System Dynamics as a Technology of Learning for New Liberal Education (original) (raw)
Related papers
Education Technologies in System Dynamics Teaching
System dynamics teaching is still predominantly face-to-face and classroom based. Though evidences of distance learning in system dynamics are appearing in the literature, the community as a whole is yet to appreciate and embrace distance learning approach. Distance learning could popularise system dynamics and enable educators to take benefits of the modern education technologies. The modern education technologies have made subject delivery flexible: learning independent of distance and formal teaching timings. This paper presents a critical appraisal of application of modern education technologies in teaching and delivery of system dynamics subject. It is suggested that problem-based learning (PBL) is an appropriate approach for system dynamics teaching, which could be feasible with the help of the Internet, e-mail, CD-ROM, teletutorial, teleconferencing and other education technologies. The design and implementation of a PBL framework is discussed in this paper.
System Dynamics as a viable tool for Engineering Education
Engineering education provides a thorough and systematic training in the design, development, maintenance and management of complex technical systems. While education provides the necessary technical depth to graduates, many technical systems are best understood from experimental, simulation or heuristic approach. System Dynamics is a well formulated methodology for analysis, problem solving, and simulation of the components of a system including cause-effect relationships and their underlying mathematics and logic, time delays, and feedback loops. Developed by an engineer, it is being used mainly in the social and behavioural sciences for strategic planning purposes. It began in the business and industry world, but is now applied in engineering education and practice and in many other disciplines. Recent advances have demonstrated the ability of the System Dynamics methodology in the study of complex engineering systems and to help in the understanding of such systems. This paper reviews the basic principles and conceptual ideas underlying the System Dynamics modeling approach to system studies. The applications of System Dynamics to the modelling of real-world engineering systems are presented. Modern engineering practice is often multidisciplinary in nature and demands holistic approach that is easily handled through System Dynamics. The paper shows how System Dynamics (SD) can be employed for engineering education to cope with the dynamics of such multidisciplinary complexity.
Communication The Design of Educational Programs in System Dynamics at
2015
Educational programs leading to degrees in system dynamics are rare and thus of critical importance to the future of the field of system dynamics. However, to a large extent such programs have not yet been made transparent to the system dynamics community as a whole. The present article describes the design and rationale for undergraduate and graduate programs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The goal of the article is to invite feedback from the system dynamics community about our specific programs as well as to facilitate wider discussion about the appropriate content, design, and pedagogy of degree programs and courses in system dynamics.
Using the System Dynamics Paradigm in Teaching and Learning Technological University Subjets
2010
Knowledge of Differential Equations is applied to various scientific fields such as physics, chemistry, biology and engineering and therefore often an important part in the basic subjects of mathematics in the first college courses related to those areas. The logic and common sense seems to indicate teachers use these basic skills acquired by students and employ them to curricula development in the following intensification courses, but unfortunately it is not usually the case. According to the authors, that is because instead of using a generic software to set up and solve the problems of Differential Equations that arise at different areas, what we have is a proliferation of software applied to solve special case problems. Some of these programs offer sophisticated graphical user interfaces to create complex system models, usually by putting together some library components, as if it were a puzzle, but without the need to set up the differential equations. According to the authors...
System dynamics education: becoming part of anticipatory systems
Purpose – This paper aims to present an overview of deep issues flanking the ideas of system and complexity, and an overview of the mentioned course as a proposal for systems thinking. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a discursive overview of systems and philosophical concepts related to the described course. Findings – The review offers a perspective of a super-system that includes the students, the lecturers and the context of their interaction, in which one may recognize a relational framework for social learning of a systemic sustainability. Research limitations/implications – The overview concerns only the actual intervention in the University of Trento. Practical implications – The described concepts and related philosophical discussion may contribute to the integration of system thinking in the future studies. Originality/value – The described intervention is a new Italian context and the integration of systems concepts with futures studies seems not to be commonly established.
Reflections on Teaching System Dynamics Modeling to Secondary School Students for over 20 Years
Systems, 2018
This paper contains the description of a successful system dynamics (SD) modeling approach used for almost a quarter-century in secondary schools, both in algebra classes and in a year-long SD modeling course. Secondary school students have demonstrated an ability to build original models from the news, write technical papers explaining their models, and present a newfound understanding of dynamic feedback behavior to an audience. The educational learning theory and instructional methods used for both the algebra and modeling courses are detailed, with examples. Successful student SD modeling experiences suggest the SD approach can expand the sophistication of topics that secondary school students can understand.
Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 2000
ABSTRACT Like many subjects taught to engineering students, the teaching of system dynamics typically has been based on a traditional didactic approach. However, there appears to be a shift away from the traditional approach to teaching system dynamics toward alternative methods of delivery such as problem-based learning (PBL) and distance-based learning. In particular, the use of modern technologies can be used to improve the effectiveness of teaching system dynamics in engineering and other courses. This article presents a critical appraisal of the application of modern education technologies in teaching and delivering system dynamics courses. The article suggests that PBL is a more effective approach to teaching system dynamics than conventional methods. Thus, a PBL framework that uses various education technologies such as the Internet, e-mail, CD-ROMs, teletutorials, and teleconferencing is proposed. The design of a PBL framework and its use as a teaching tool are presented and discussed. Future developments of the proposed learning framework are also discussed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 8: 1–10, 2000
1994
I believe we should give students a more effective way of interpreting the world around them. They should gain a greater and well-founded confidence for managing their lives and the situations they encouter. The objectives of a system dynamics education might be grouped under three headings: 1. Developing personal skills, 2. Shaping an outlook and personality to fit the 21 st century, and 3. Understanding the nature of systems in which we work and live. A system dynamics education should instill a personal philosophy that is consistent with the complex world in which we live.
Introducing Digital Design Methods to System Dynamics Education
Abstract One of the origins of system dynamics is control theory. Thus, it is worthwhile to investigate how the growing use of digital models as means of control should affect the field of system dynamics. In particular, it would be interesting to explore how the introduction of digital models could enrich the learning of system dynamics in K-12 curriculum.