Subject: Definitions of feedback loops

Posted by Prof. Dr. Niall Palfreyman on 2/6/2006
In Reply To:Definitions of feedback loops Posted by George Richardson on 2/3/2006

Message:

George Richardson wrote:

> We're the K-12 listserve. We're trying to be as concrete (not
> abstract) as we can be). Let's leave the abstract stuff for the
> system dynamics listserve philosophical discussions.

I'm sorry. I understood this to be a mildly philosophical discussion.
Obviously I misinterpreted.

> Endogenous thinking seems to me something we do. I think we get that
> across by doing it, repeatedly, with coaching, like a tennis backhand.

I like your analogy of the tennis backhand. Yes, I agree: by doing I understand. Yet I think the delightful thing about introducing concepts via stories is that they get people "doing" things in their head preparatory to doing them in real-life. Isn't bath-tub dynamics in the end just a story which we want students to internalise and rehearse, and so understand the idea that dynamics can be unexpected?

Best wishes,
Niall.