Unit 1: Introduction to Systems Thinking – What is a System?
Lisa Gilbert (Williams College), Deborah Gross (Carleton College), and Karl Kreutz (University of Maine)
This material was developed and reviewed through the InTeGrate curricular materials development process. This rigorous, structured process includes:
- team-based development to ensure materials are appropriate across multiple educational settings.
- multiple iterative reviews and feedback cycles through the course of material development with input to the authoring team from both project editors and an external assessment team.
- real in-class testing of materials in at least 3 institutions with external review of student assessment data.
- multiple reviews to ensure the materials meet the InTeGrate materials rubric which codifies best practices in curricular development, student assessment and pedagogic techniques.
- review by external experts for accuracy of the science content.
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Collection
Resources in this top level collection a) must have scored Exemplary or Very Good in all five review categories, and must also rate as "Exemplary" in at least three of the five categories. The five categories included in the peer review process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
- First Publication: October 24, 2016
- Reviewed: July 12, 2017 -- Reviewed by the On the Cutting Edge Activity Review Process
- File/Data Set Update: August 1, 2024 -- Updated file: 'Examples of Systems Diagrams - Word' Removed broken links and added alternatives
- File/Data Set Update: August 1, 2024 -- Updated file: 'Examples of Systems Diagrams - pdf' Removed broken links and added alternatives
- Fix Links: August 1, 2024 -- Removed broken links and added some alternatives as examples of systems diagrams
Summary
This unit introduces systems and systems thinking. The unit is easily adaptable to any course and includes an introduction of terminology, motivation for using systems thinking, and practice reading, as well as interpreting and evaluating systems diagrams. Note that an Internet connection and speakers are required to play the audio file in Part 3.
Topics
Geography,
Environmental Geology,
Geoscience,
Environmental Science Grade Level
College Introductory
These materials have been
reviewed for their alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards as detailed below.
Overview
This focuses on a simple conceptual model to introduce the tools of systems thinking, uses a real-world example of a complex societal problem for practice, and offers easily adapted alternatives.
Science and Engineering Practices
Developing and Using Models: Develop and/or use a model to predict and/or describe phenomena. MS-P2.5:
Developing and Using Models: Develop, revise, and/or use a model based on evidence to illustrate and/or predict the relationships between systems or between components of a system HS-P2.3:
Cross Cutting Concepts
Systems and System Models: Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems. MS-C4.2:
Systems and System Models: When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models. HS-C4.2:
Systems and System Models: Systems can be designed to do specific tasks. HS-C4.1:
Systems and System Models: Models (e.g., physical, mathematical, computer models) can be used to simulate systems and interactions—including energy, matter, and information flows—within and between systems at different scales. HS-C4.3:
Stability and Change: Systems can be designed for greater or lesser stability. HS-C7.4:
Stability and Change: Much of science deals with constructing explanations of how things change and how they remain stable. HS-C7.1:
Stability and Change: Feedback (negative or positive) can stabilize or destabilize a system. HS-C7.3:
Follow the links above to find
activities from Teach the Earth on a specific topic.
Share your modifications and improvements to this activity through the Community Contribution Tool » Learning Goals
- Students will be able to define systems terminology (such as open and closed system, reservoir, flux, and feedback loop).
- Students will be able to read and interpret simple systems diagrams.
- Students will be able evaluate a given diagram's appropriateness for a written description of a system.
Context for Use
The unit is intended for use in a course or module for which systems thinking is critical to the goals of the course or module. The examples used are general enough to be used with nearly any course. This unit can stand alone or be used at any point during a course to help promote systems thinking.
Description and Teaching Materials
Materials for this introductory unit are included in the following PowerPoint: Introductory System Slides (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 82kB Oct11 16) (also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 523kB Oct11 16)). An Internet connection is needed to access the radio piece in Part 3.
Part 1. Knowledge surveys and introduction to systems thinking (5–10 min)
The instructor begins class with a knowledge survey about systems diagrams. Students will complete the same survey at the start and end of class, which will allow them (and you, the instructor) to reflect on their progress.
a) Slides 1–3: Begin class with a knowledge survey
Either on slips of paper, in their notes, with this handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 60kB Sep10 16), or using clickers, ask students to answer:
How do you rate your knowledge of systems diagrams right now?
- I have never heard of systems diagrams.
- I have heard of systems diagrams, but cannot elaborate.
- I could explain a little about systems diagrams.
- If given a systems diagram, I could explain it.
- I could create a systems diagram and then explain it.
Then, the instructor gives students a short introduction to systems thinking.
b) Slide 4: Prompt students to work individually to describe a bathtub in 2–4 complete sentences.
Part 2. Motivation for studying systems thinking and The Bathtub System (10 min)
Slides 5–16: The instructor defines systems terms visually using a bathtub as a system and then shows examples of why systems thinking is important.
Incomplete systems diagram in Student Handout. Students modify this diagram based on a news story.
![[creative commons]](/images/creativecommons_16.png)
Provenance: Lisa Gilbert, Cabrillo College
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.
Part 3. Example of a system, using systems terminology (20 min)
a) Slide 17: The instructor plays the first two minutes of the Minnesota Public Radio piece linked within the PowerPoint. The instructor asks students to list influences on climate. Then, at slide 18, with a partner, students should sort their list of influences into fluxes, reservoirs, and feedbacks. To access audio file:
b) Slide 19: The instructor prompts students to work with a partner to answer the following on the Student Handout for Evaluating a System Diagram Activity (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 97kB Jul15 15) (also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 69kB Jul5 16)):
- Does the diagram fully represent the complexity of the system described by the speaker? If not, add to the diagram.
c) Slide 20–21: The instructor leads a discussion about possible answers to prompt.
Part 4. Expanding the simple bathtub (10–15 min)
Slide 22: The instructor prompts students to draw a diagram of their bathtub at home and use systems vocabulary to explain in a paragraph how it works. How is your bathtub different from the simple open system bathtub we imagined in class? Using systems vocabulary, write a paragraph to explain the differences. The instructor leads a class discussion and wrap-up.
Slide 23: Repeat the knowledge survey.
Draw the bathtub as a system. Example of ideas from 18 different students compiled into one diagram.
Provenance: deborah gross, Carleton College
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.
End of class assessment
Either on slips of paper, in their notes, with this handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 60kB Sep10 16), or using clickers, ask students to answer:
How do you rate your knowledge of systems diagrams now?
- I have never heard of systems diagrams.
- I have heard of systems diagrams, but cannot elaborate.
- I could explain a little about systems diagrams.
- If given a systems diagram, I could explain it.
- I could create a systems diagram and then explain it.
And, reflect briefly on your learning today: what aspect of class most helped you improve your knowledge of systems? Why?
Teaching Notes and Tips
Terminology
Many of these terms, including feedback loops, have equivalents in economics, math, and other fields. We have chosen the terms we believe are most common in the natural sciences and concur with Kastens (2010)' Earth and Mind blog post on her choice of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops (in place of positive and negative feedback loops). For instructor reference and to give to students, many systems terms are defined here: Systems Thinking Glossary (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 19kB Dec5 14); also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 93kB Jun21 16)).
Knowledge Surveys
The start/end of class assessments can be done with any size class in less than a minute. The assessments can be done on paper or with clickers, but it is important for students to reflect on both their final confidence rating and the difference between their initial and final ratings. If students only write their ratings in their notes, ask for a show of hands about how many people went up one level or more.
Video alternative to audio
Should an instructor prefer to use a video in place of the MPR audio, a similar-length video provides a reasonable alternative: How Wildfires Affect Climate YouTube video from Michigan Engineering. The instructor would need to slightly alter the student handout (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 97kB Jul15 15) and PowerPoint file for alignment with the video.
Assessment
How do you rate your knowledge of systems diagrams right now, before class?
- I have never heard of systems diagrams.
- I have heard of systems diagrams, but cannot elaborate.
- I could explain a little about systems diagrams.
- If given a systems diagram, I could explain it.
- I could create a systems diagram and then explain it.
How do you rate your knowledge of systems diagrams right now, after class?
- I have never heard of systems diagrams.
- I have heard of systems diagrams, but cannot elaborate.
- I could explain a little about systems diagrams.
- If given a systems diagram, I could explain it.
- I could create a systems diagram and then explain it.
Reflect briefly on your learning today: what aspect of class most helped you improve your knowledge of systems? Why?
From the MPR piece Student Handout for Evaluating a System Diagram Activity (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 97kB Jul15 15) or PDF version (Acrobat (PDF) 69kB Jul5 16).
- Write down anything you can identify as a:
- flux
- reservoir
- feedback
- Does the diagram fully represent the complexity of the system described by the speaker? If not, add to the diagram.
References and Resources
Systems Thinking Glossary (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 19kB Dec5 14)
Additional background on Earth Systems Thinking: Complex Earth Systems, from Bringing Research on Learning to the Geosciences
Relevant Images/Concepts within other InTeGrate Modules:
Other Systems Diagrams:
This document Examples of Systems Diagrams (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 15kB Aug1 24) (also available as a PDF (Acrobat (PDF) 18kB Aug1 24)) includes a non-comprehensive list of freely-available systems diagrams for a variety of geoscience-relevant systems. The diagrams are presented at a variety of levels and are provided in case the instructor wishes to provide students with a diagram for a class assignment, or for other uses on a case-by-case basis.
Dynamic Visualization:
Many freely-available tools for creating systems diagrams, or causal loop diagrams, include the option to animate, such as LOOPY. An example of how to introduce LOOPY is explained in Visualizing Systems .
Learn More
Hide
Download
Download a zip file that includes all the web pages and downloadable files from the instructor's materials
