1. Practical Applications of Systems Thinking and STELLA in the High School Setting Presented by: Jeremy Merritt, Mark Clemente VSTE 2009

2. 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

3. Examples of Systems DigestiveForestCommunity

4. Slinky

5. Bathtubs A bathtub is a simple system

6. Bathtub System 11:46 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009 Water in bathtub 0.007.5015.0022.5030.00 Minutes 1: 0 15 30 1: Bathtub 1 1 1 1 Draining

7. Understanding Behavior Over Time Dynamic Equilibrium 11:34 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009 Water in bathtub 0.007.5015.0022.5030.00 Minutes 1: 24 25 26 1: Bathtub 1111

8. Stocks & Flows The bathtub is a stock

9. Stocks & Flows The faucet and the drain are flows

10. Modeling Systems with STELLA

11. Other Stocks & Flows Same thing, different units

12. Feedback Loops A feedback loop occurs when a stock affects its flows R

13. Feedback Loops Reinforcing Loops R R R

14. Behavior vs. Data It’s important to focus on behavior when you’re thinking about systems R 1 1 1 1

15. Feedback Loops Balancing Loop

16. Balancing Loops 0.0015.0030.0045.0060.00 Time 1: 50 250 450 1: Population 1 1 1 1

17. Applying Systems Thinking in the Classroom Use Systems Thinking Stock & flow Mapping Use Model-based Concepts Materials Non-software-based Software-based

19. 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

20. 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.

21. Mark Clemente! MODSIM Initiative

22. 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

23. Contact Us! isee systems –www.iseesystems.comwww.iseesystems.com –blog.iseesystems.com Jeremy Merritt –jmerritt@iseesystems.comjmerritt@iseesystems.com –Twitter @jeremyx@jeremyx Mark Clemente –mark.clemente@nianet.orgmark.clemente@nianet.org