Subject: K-12 SD Research

Posted by Linda Booth Sweeney on 7/25/2003
In Reply To:K-12 SD Research Posted by Ruth Fruland on 7/25/2003

Message:

Wonderful to have you join the list!

My dissertation is also related to systems thinking, specifically,
I'm looking at the intuitive models middle-school students and their
teachers hold of natural and social systems. I also look at how my
study participants use homologies (structural analogies).

It sounds like you'll need to find an instrument to measure (or describe) teachers' beliefs and values. There are all sorts of instruments. You might take a look at Carol Ann Zulauf's dissertation to see what instruments she used. Nancy Roberts also assessed "attitude" in her 1978 dissertation (available from UMI). I've included a few other references that may also help to stimulate your thinking.

Best of luck with your work.

My best,
Linda

Roberts, N. (1978). "Teaching Dynamic Feedback Systems Thinking: An Elementary View." Management Science 24(8): 836-843.

Zulauf, C. A. (1995). An Exploration of the Cognitive Correlates of Systems Thinking. Ph. D. Thesis, Boston University, Boston, MA.

Mandinach, E. B. and H. F. Cline (1994). Classroom Dynamics: Implementing a Technology-Based Learning Environment. New Jersey,
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Cavaleri, S., and Sterman, J. D. (1995). Towards evaluation of
systems thinking interventions: A case study. Proceedings of the 1995
Conference of the International System Dynamics Society (Tokyo, Japan), pp. 398-407.

Brown, A. and J. Campione (1990). Interactive learning environments
and the teaching of science and mathematics. Toward a Scientific
Practice of Science Education. J. G. M. Gardner, F. Reif, A.Schoenfeld, A. diSessa, & E. Stage. Hillsdale, NJ, Lawrence Erlbaum,Associates: 111-140.

Barowy, B. and N. Roberts, Eds. (2001). Modeling as Inquiry Activity
in School Science: What's the Point? Computer Simulation and Modeling
in Science Education. New York, Springer-Verlag.

Wiske, M. S., Ed. (1998). Teaching for Understanding: Linking Research with Practice. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass

Follow Ups:

K-12 SD Research - Jose Leal 7/25/2003 
K-12 SD Research - Ruth Fruland 7/25/2003
K-12 SD Research - Jose Leal 7/25/2003
K-12 SD Research - Tim Lucas 7/25/2003
K-12 SD Research - Jose Leal 7/25/2003