InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Systems Thinking
 Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: October 24, 2016

Summary

The Systems Thinking Module provides a foundation for systems thinking throughout the InTeGrate materials. Units 1 and 2 of this module are designed to be used early within a course and then reinforced later; Units 3-5 give students data-rich modeling experiences; Unit 6 is an interactive summative activity. Specifically, this module prepares students to address complex systems issues for a sustainable future by 1) identifying the parts of a system and explaining how the parts interact, 2) developing skills to model complex systems using data and examples relevant to the course and 3) applying a systems approach to evaluate a societal challenge. This InTeGrate module fills a key need to educate students about the importance of the systems approach, uses examples that involve data and the construction and manipulation of systems models, and helps students approach complex, interdisciplinary problems.

Strengths of the Module

This module addresses systems thinking in the context of societal issues. Students are engaged through active learning (e.g. diagramming, gallery walk, and modeling exercises) and requires interdisciplinary thinking.

Students learn about complex systems and feedbacks, and use systems modeling software to explore system responses to changes in the components of the system. They will learn to recognize systems in their everyday lives through a project involving documenting a system they encounter on campus or at home.

Students explore real Earth system data to learn about positive and negative feedbacks. The carbon cycle is used to explore quantitative relationships and to develop writing skills through describing components of a systems diagram.

Big picture thinking is developed when students make connections between components of the course.

A great fit for courses in:

  • Environmental Science
  • Introductory Geology
  • Oceanography
  • Climate Science
  • Natural Hazards
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Interdisciplinary Courses
  • Sustainability Courses
Next Generation Science Standards Logo. A purple, orange, and green triangle to the left of the words, Next Generation Science Standards.

These materials have been reviewed for their alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. At the top of each page, you can click on the NGSS logo to see the specific connections. Visit InTeGrate and the NGSS to learn more about the process of alignment and how to use InTeGrate materials to implement the NGSS.

NGSS in this Module

The "Systems Thinking" module is structured so that students begin understanding simple systems and then progress to understanding complex thinking. Students learn to work with system modeling software and technical terms for discussing systems and balance and equilibrium in systems. This module engages students in the manipulation of input and output data through the use of the software and analysis of their changes in the system. By the end of the module, students are analyzing and discussing very complex systems within the Earth's system. This module is mainly focused on using computer models and computational thinking to teach systems thinking.


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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »