| Shape of Change (Lesson 9): The Connection Game, including Stocks and Flows |
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Author(s):
Rob Quaden, Alan Ticotsky, & Debra Lyneis |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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From "The Shape of Change." Students play a game in which their movements around the room depend on the movements of other players.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action, Incorrect High-Leverage Policies. This lesson can be used to gain an intuitive understanding of what it means to say a policy has "low leverage." This lesson can be used to gain an intuitive understanding of what it means to say a policy has "high leverage." |
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 PDF
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 29: Space for Living |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Given a set of rope circles, participants must find a way to have every person have both feet inside a circle. After each round, circles are removed until everyone must find space inside the last circle.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action. Participants must find a way to share a limited (and shrinking) resource. As they attempt to solve the problem, they must shift a mental model in order to successfully meet the goal. Available from Chelsea Green Publishers. |
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More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| The Systems Thinking Playbook Exercise 4: Thumb Wrestling |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney, & Dennis Meadows |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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Participants play a game with commonly known rules and goals.
Available from Chelsea Green Publishers.
Complex Systems Connection: Cause within System, Ineffective Action. Participant's mental models about the the system structure (the game) get in the way of significantly improving performance. As efforts increase, performance actually goes down. |
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PDF
More about the book at: http://www.chelseagreen.com/bookstore/item/the_systems_thinking_playbook:hardcover%20with%20dvd
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| When a Butterfly Sneezes Story 2: The Old Lady Who Liked Cats |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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When a mayor decides to eliminate all the cats on an island, it creates a cascading set of negative effects.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action, Short and Long Term Conflicts. By removing the cats, the system is completely pushed out of balance, creating havoc on the system as a whole. Only by bringing back the cats do the issues resolve. |
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PDF
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| When a Butterfly Sneezes Story 3: The Cat in the Hat Comes Back |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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A cat causes trouble for two children by making a giant mess when their mother is away.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action, Short and Long Term Conflicts. The cat's methods for fixing the problem (spots) leads to an even bigger problem. |
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| When a Butterfly Sneezes Story 4: Once a Mouse: A Fable Cut in Wood |
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Author(s):
Linda Booth Sweeney |
Subject:
Cross-Curricular |
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A hermit protects a mouse by turning him into bigger and bigger animals until finally he's a tiger. He becomes "too big for his britches," threatening others including the hermit. Finally, the hermit turns him back into a mouse.
Complex Systems Connection: Ineffective Action, Short and Long Term Conflicts. The hermit's solution creates a worsening problem over time. |
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