Population Dynamics

Most of us are familiar with Santayana's famous quote. "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." But what does this mean, in practical terms, for how we teach history?

Consider our "Iceberg Model". While Santayana's warning is often referenced in relation to particular EVENTS, as systems thinkers we look at longer-term behaviors to find recurring PATTERNS. These patterns may manifest as periods of economic boom and bust, war and peace, or social and political upheaval. Underlying these patterns are closed networks of structured relationships or SYSTEMS. These systems are constantly informing patterns that impact both today's world and future events.

The four simulations of the Population Dynamics series are designed to supplement existing high school history curricula and be largely self-directed by students outside of class time. They are intended to introduce students to a variety of systems tools (behavior-over-time graphs, stock/flow maps, models/simulations) along with primary and secondary historical resources.

Each of the four simulations below examines an important period of development within American history.

Introduction to Population Dynamics

These simulations use systems thinking and dynamic modeling tools to expose different patterns of population growth associated with demographic systems (birth and death rates, migration), environmental resources and social systems. Many of these systems structures and closed relationships persist and they continue to shape the present and possible future developments.