An Introduction to Using Systems Thinking and STELLA in the Classroom

Presented by:Mark Clemente

National Institute of Aerospace

Resources for this presentation

http://livebinders.com/edit?id=4349

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

Examples of Systems

Digestive Forest Community

Magic Spring Toy (aka Slinky™)

Bathtubs

A bathtub is a simple system

0

5

10

15

20

25

9AM

Water in Bathtub

Bathtub System

Draining

11:46 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Water in bathtub

0.00 7.50 15.00 22.50 30.00Minutes

1:

1:

1:

0

15

30

1: Bathtub

1

1

1

1

Understanding Behavior Over Time

Dynamic Equilibrium

11:34 AM Fri, Feb 20, 2009

Water in bathtub

0.00 7.50 15.00 22.50 30.00Minutes

1:

1:

1:

24

25

26

1: Bathtub

1 1 1 1

Modeling Systems with STELLA

Stocks & Flows

The bathtub is a stock

Bathtub

Stocks & Flows

The faucet and the drain are flows

Bathtub

adding water draining water

Other Stocks & Flows

Same thing, different units

Bank Account

making deposits

C02 In

Atmosphere

adding c02Self Esteem

building

Feedback Loops

Balancing Loop

Room Temp

adding heatfrom furnace

thermostat setting

difference betweendesired and actual temp

Balancing Loops

0.00 15.00 30.00 45.00 60.00Time

1:

1:

1:

50

250

450

1: Population

1

1

11

Populationreproducing

birth rate

dying

death rate

Applying Systems Thinking in the Classroom

Use Systems Thinking Stock & flow Mapping Use Model-based Concepts Materials

Non-software-based Software-based

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