University Of Vermont Rubednstein School Of Environmental And Natural Resouorces
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UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT RUBEDNSTEIN SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOUORCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM ENVS 195/ NR 185 SYSTEMS THINKING FOR SUSTAINABILITY Wednesdays, 4:05 PM-7:05 PM Marsh Life Sciences, Room 105 COURSE SYLLABUS FALL, 2009
COURSE DESCRIPTION How can we make the systems that we work and live in more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable? Systems Thinking helps you develop the critical skills necessary to solve the complex problems for the transitional era we’re in today. Systems Thinking allows you to see “the big picture” and synthesize information from many different perspectives and disciplines in both your personal and professional lives.
COURSE GOALS To change your paradigms and better prepare you to lead in the transition to a more sustainable world. To help you better understand the unanticipated, long-term consequences and the cross-impacts of your decisions. To develop high-leverage solutions to challenging problems that you confront, such as how to plan sustainably, allocate scarce resources, and analyze trade-offs
LEARNING OBJECTIVES You will learn to: Develop causal feedback models to design long-term solutions to complex problems Use a systems approach to address a variety of interdisciplinary problems by revealing their underlying causes rather than their superficial symptoms Collaborate with a community organization to provide it with an implementable solution to a realworld sustainability issue it faces
SERVICE-LEARNING COMPONENT This is a service-learning course where you will be part of a team that uses a Systems Thinking approach to create and analyze visual feedback models of sustainability issues with their community partners, and then use these models to develop and implement policy solutions. Topics from the previous class were: multi-modal transportation systems, time banking, local food systems, conservation easements, green building placement, and energy considerations of building locations.
PREREQUISITES ENVS1, NR1, or instructor permission. This is a nontechnical course and does not require computer modeling or simulation skills INSTRUCTOR Lance Polya, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor Environmental Program (802) 899-2303 (home) [email protected] INSTRUCTOR BIO Lance Polya has been teaching Systems Thinking in a non-technical way to organizations and classes for twenty years. He earned a Ph.D. in Systems Science from the State University of New York. Dr. Polya was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to develop and teach Systems Thinking to nontechnical students at UVM. TEACHING ASSISTANTS Michael Haulenbeek (802) 338-2022 (cell) [email protected]
and
Taylor Ralph (845) 489-1536 (cell) [email protected]
COURSE WEBSITE http://www.uvm.edu/~lpolya/ READINGS There is one assigned paperback book: “Thinking in Systems” by Donella Meadows. Most other readings will be individual articles from various texts and journals. HOMEWORK There will be weekly homework assignments related to the readings.
COURSE GRADE COMPUTATION 3 Quizzes Service-learning group project Homework preparation & class participation
40% 40% 20%
Note: The service-learning final report will replace the final examination. ATTENDANCE Students maintaining an A or B average are permitted one unexcused absence per semester.
ENVS 195/ NR 185 FALL, 2009 TENATIVE CLASS OUTLINE (subject to change)
1-Sep 2
2-Sep 9
Course Overview Properties of systems Policy insensitivity Forming Group project teams--1 Symptoms vs. causes Closed loop Thinking Causal Loop Diagrams Forming Group project teams-2
8-Oct 21
Systems Archetypes Limits to Growth Drifting Goals
9-Oct 28
Quiz #2 Tragedy of the Commons
10-Nov 4
Tragedy of the Commons (cont.) Simulation modeling of fish banks
3-Sep 16
Causal Loop Diagrams (continued) Unintended consequences
11-Nov 11
Shifting the Burden Adaptation vs. Addiction
4-Sep 23
Goal-discrepancy structures Stocks and flows---first level Diagramming narratives
12-Nov 18
Complex systems Chaotic Systems
Nov 25
No class--Thanksgiving Break
13-Dec 2
Presentations of group projects
14-Dec 9
Quiz #3 Policy Implementation Innovation Diffusion Game Precepts & rules of thumb Closure and course evaluation
5-Sep 30
Quiz #1 Stocks and flows—second level Predator-Prey models Reflective process for SL
6-Oct 7
Paradigms
7-Oct 14
Presentation of own paradigms Guest Lecturer on Paradigms Leverage Points
COURSE DESCRIPTION How can we make the systems that we work and live in more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable? Systems Thinking helps you develop the critical skills necessary to solve the complex problems for the transitional era we’re in today. Systems Thinking allows you to see “the big picture” and synthesize information from many different perspectives and disciplines in both your personal and professional lives.
COURSE GOALS To change your paradigms and better prepare you to lead in the transition to a more sustainable world. To help you better understand the unanticipated, long-term consequences and the cross-impacts of your decisions. To develop high-leverage solutions to challenging problems that you confront, such as how to plan sustainably, allocate scarce resources, and analyze trade-offs
LEARNING OBJECTIVES You will learn to: Develop causal feedback models to design long-term solutions to complex problems Use a systems approach to address a variety of interdisciplinary problems by revealing their underlying causes rather than their superficial symptoms Collaborate with a community organization to provide it with an implementable solution to a realworld sustainability issue it faces
SERVICE-LEARNING COMPONENT This is a service-learning course where you will be part of a team that uses a Systems Thinking approach to create and analyze visual feedback models of sustainability issues with their community partners, and then use these models to develop and implement policy solutions. Topics from the previous class were: multi-modal transportation systems, time banking, local food systems, conservation easements, green building placement, and energy considerations of building locations.
PREREQUISITES ENVS1, NR1, or instructor permission. This is a nontechnical course and does not require computer modeling or simulation skills INSTRUCTOR Lance Polya, Ph.D. Adjunct Professor Environmental Program (802) 899-2303 (home) [email protected] INSTRUCTOR BIO Lance Polya has been teaching Systems Thinking in a non-technical way to organizations and classes for twenty years. He earned a Ph.D. in Systems Science from the State University of New York. Dr. Polya was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to develop and teach Systems Thinking to nontechnical students at UVM. TEACHING ASSISTANTS Michael Haulenbeek (802) 338-2022 (cell) [email protected]
and
Taylor Ralph (845) 489-1536 (cell) [email protected]
COURSE WEBSITE http://www.uvm.edu/~lpolya/ READINGS There is one assigned paperback book: “Thinking in Systems” by Donella Meadows. Most other readings will be individual articles from various texts and journals. HOMEWORK There will be weekly homework assignments related to the readings.
COURSE GRADE COMPUTATION 3 Quizzes Service-learning group project Homework preparation & class participation
40% 40% 20%
Note: The service-learning final report will replace the final examination. ATTENDANCE Students maintaining an A or B average are permitted one unexcused absence per semester.
ENVS 195/ NR 185 FALL, 2009 TENATIVE CLASS OUTLINE (subject to change)
1-Sep 2
2-Sep 9
Course Overview Properties of systems Policy insensitivity Forming Group project teams--1 Symptoms vs. causes Closed loop Thinking Causal Loop Diagrams Forming Group project teams-2
8-Oct 21
Systems Archetypes Limits to Growth Drifting Goals
9-Oct 28
Quiz #2 Tragedy of the Commons
10-Nov 4
Tragedy of the Commons (cont.) Simulation modeling of fish banks
3-Sep 16
Causal Loop Diagrams (continued) Unintended consequences
11-Nov 11
Shifting the Burden Adaptation vs. Addiction
4-Sep 23
Goal-discrepancy structures Stocks and flows---first level Diagramming narratives
12-Nov 18
Complex systems Chaotic Systems
Nov 25
No class--Thanksgiving Break
13-Dec 2
Presentations of group projects
14-Dec 9
Quiz #3 Policy Implementation Innovation Diffusion Game Precepts & rules of thumb Closure and course evaluation
5-Sep 30
Quiz #1 Stocks and flows—second level Predator-Prey models Reflective process for SL
6-Oct 7
Paradigms
7-Oct 14
Presentation of own paradigms Guest Lecturer on Paradigms Leverage Points
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