1. An Introduction to Using Systems Thinking and STELLA in the Classroom
Presented by:
Mark Clemente
National Institute of Aerospace

2. Resources for this presentation

3. 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
“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

4. Examples of Systems Digestive Forest Community Examples of Systems
elements, interconnected, function
- Digestive system (teeth, enzymes, stomach, intestines)
- Forest (plants & trees, animals, sunlight, water)
- Community (people, spaces, resources)
(Slinky - structure determines behavior)
Digestive
Forest
Community

5. Magic Spring Toy (aka Slinky™)

6. A bathtub is a simple system
Bathtubs
A bathtub is a simple system
(Half full bath tub bar chart)
A bathtub is a simple system

7. Bathtub System Draining (Bathtub with faucet off and drain on)1: 30 1 1 1: 15 1
(Bathtub with faucet off and drain on)
(Line chart of draining process) 1 1:
0.00
7.50
15.00
22.50
30.00
Minutes
11:46 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009
Water in bathtub
Draining

8. Understanding Behavior Over Time
1: Bathtub 1: 26 1: 25 1 1 1 1
(Half full bathtub with faucet on and drain on)
(Line graph of water half full)
Dynamic Equilibrium 1: 24
0.00
7.50
15.00
22.50
30.00
Minutes
11:34 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009
Water in bathtub
Dynamic Equilibrium

9. Modeling Systems with STELLA

10. Stocks & Flows The bathtub is a stock The bathtub is a stock
(Picture of stock)
The bathtub is a stock

11. The faucet and the drain are flows
Stocks & Flows
The faucet and drain are flows
(Picture of stock and flows)
The faucet and the drain are flows

12. Same thing, different units
Other Stocks & Flows
Here are some other types of stocks and flows
(Money in bank account)
(C02 In Atmosphere)
(Self Esteem in teenager)
Same thing, different units!
Same thing, different units

13. Feedback Loops
Balancing Loop

14. Balancing Loops 1: Population 1: 450 1 1 1: 250 1 1 1: 50 0.00 15.00
30.00
45.00
60.00
Time

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

16. 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