This morning I gave a guest lecture on systems thinking. This is one of my favorite topics as it provides a framework to examine and describe the complicated interactions we see and experience in the real world. One of the biggest challenges with teaching systems thinking is the complexity of both the concept and application.
We are often conditioned to see linear cause and effect interactions. System thinking expands this perspective to include the interrelationships between events, both causal and interactive.
I was fortunate to work with an amazing team to develop a new approach to teaching system thinking - Hypothetical Case Scenarios. This model is like the old "Choose Your Own Adventure" books where learners are presented a scenario and possible outcomes. Learner choices guide the narrative and they are presented a summary of outcomes based on their choices.
Hypothetical Case Scenarios (HCSs)
Transformative learning tools: HCSs enhance students' systems thinking, focusing on food-system scenarios.
Improve Instructional Insights and Improve Holistic Decision-Making: Discussions reveal students consider economic, social, and environmental aspects of scenarios.
Empathy and Structured Dialogue
Overcoming Empathy Gap: HCSs promote empathy, allowing students to understand complex issues from various perspectives.
Safe Dialogues: Moral conflicts in scenarios encourage structured, safe discussions on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and societal challenges.
Implementing HCSs for Transformative Learning
Cognitive Dissonance: HCSs create disorienting dilemmas, challenging students' preconceptions.
Instructor Facilitation: Instructors play a crucial role in guiding concept reconstruction.
Collective Reflection: Group dynamics encourage the reconstruction of assumptions.
Future Directions
Diverse Topics: Explore HCSs in various food-system scenarios using multiple methods.
Consider Disciplinary Backgrounds: Be sure to think about students' disciplinary backgrounds and prior interdisciplinary experiences.
Empowering Complex Problem Solvers: HCSs equip students with the skills to address challenges, such as the SDGs.
I've included our research below for your reference. Please be sure to share your thoughts about teaching systems thinking including any suggestions or best practices below.
Sanders, C. E., Byrd, A. R., Gibson, K. E., Golson, A., Lamm, K. W., & Lamm, A. J. (2023). Teaching systems-thinking concepts with hypothetical case scenarios: An exploration in food-systems science education. Foods, 12(14), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12142663
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