Systems Modeling Workshop
Description
This workshop will introduce a whole-systems perspective on design and provide a set of tools for thinking about systems—and for representing systems to aid discussions with others, including project sponsors, constituents, and team members. Participants will learn the fundamentals of concept mapping, systems dynamics, and cybernetics—basic terminology and frameworks.
The purpose of the workshop is to encourage participants to think in systems and to provide language and models to aid that process—which can be immediately applied to other course work.
Workshop Agenda
| 9:00 am | Introduction to concept mapping (node-link diagrams)
|
| Break | |
| 10:30 am | Introduction to systems dynamics (stocks and flows)
|
| 12:30 pm | Lunch as a group |
| 1:30 pm | Introduction to first-order cybernetics (feedback loops)
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| Break | |
| 3:30 pm | Applying systems modeling
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| 5:00 pm | End |
Suggested Readings
- Chapters 1 and 2, "Learning About Learning" and "Concept Mapping for Meaningful Learning," from Learning
How to Learn, Joseph D. Novak and Bob Gowin, Cambridge University Press, 1984.
http://www.dubberly.com/courses/design_theory/01._Learning_How_To_Learn.pdf - Chapters 1, "The Basics," Thinking in Systems: A Primer, Donella Meadows, 2008.
http://www.ess.inpe.br/courses/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=wiki:user:andre.zopelari:thinking_in_systems_a_primer.pdf - "Models of Models," Interactions, Hugh Dubberly, ACM, May + June, 2009.
http://www.dubberly.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/ddo_article_modelsofmodels1.pdf - "What is interaction? Are there different types?" Interactions, Hugh Dubberly et al., ACM, January +
February, 2009.
http://www.dubberly.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/ddo_article_whatisinteraction.pdf - "Institutional Ecology: 'Transitions' and Boundary Objects," Susan Star and James Griesemer, Social
Studies of Science, 1989; 10; 387.
http://www.dubberly.com/courses/design_theory/09._Star_Griesemer_1989.pdf