z39\doc\web\2000\02\sysdyn.txt From: Lynn M Stuter Subject: Re: System Dynamics in Education All, This is an excellent website. The white papers listed on that website are worth the read. I was of the understanding that Forrester was dead but apparently not. Forrester's paper, System Dynamics and k-12 Teachers is a must read on systems philosophy; also his paper "Designing the Future" -- like "creating the future". I've linked to this website from http://www.icehouse.net/lmstuter/page0026.htm . Dr Bernardo is partially incorrect -- this is the foundation of education reform, rising continually to a higher plain (more complex systems involving more subsystems to form the sustainable community, the sustainable global community). Forrester is the mentor of Peter Senge who you will find referenced heavily in education reform. LynnS At 05:16 PM 2/10/00 -0500, you wrote: >All: Last evening we were shown some documents Dr. Aldo Bernardo had just >received regarding systems dynamics as applied to education by Prof. Jay >Forrester. Aldo's initial scan of the documents evinced considerable >concern that this was a next step in the restructuring of education. I did >a web search on the gentleman this p.m. and found the below including links >to much of his writings. Lynn Stuter and others have voiced concerns about >systems approaches to education and if you visit the web site noted at the >bottom of the first section and view some of the documents I think you >will understand why. To give you a little introduction to the concepts I >include a portion of one document he has written, System Dynamics and K-12 >Teachers (D-4665) [218K], which is Prof. Jay Forrester's most recent >writing on using system dynamics in kindergarten through twelfth grade >education. Please note that Forrester is no minor figure in higher >education. Fred >_____________________________________- >Jay W. Forrester >Germeshausen Professor Emeritus of Management >Senior Lecturer > >University of Nebraska, BS '39, Electrical Engineering >MIT, SM '45, Electrical Engineering > >Forrester, who invented random-access magnetic-core memory during the first >wave of modern digital computers, also pioneered the field of system >dynamics -- analysis of the behavior of systems. He pursues three main >interests based on system dynamics: the System Dynamics National Model, >which generates the major observed modes of economic behavior; a new >management education based on the inherent, dynamic complexity of all the >related parts of a corporation and brings them into a unified system; and >system dynamics as a methodology for giving cohesion, meaning, and >motivation to pre-college education. > >Jay W. Forrester is Germeshausen Professor Emeritus and Senior Lecturer at >the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He >began his career as an electrical engineer working on servomechanisms and >large-scale digital computers. While Director of the MIT Digital Computer >Laboratory from 1946 to 1951, he was responsible for the design and >construction of Whirlwind I, one of the first high-speed digital computers. > >In 1956, Professor Forrester started the System Dynamics Group at the Sloan >School and with it, the field of system dynamics. The five books he has >written on system dynamics are available through Pegasus Communications in >Waltham, Massachusetts. > >Along with many writing and speaking commitments, Professor Forrester is >currently working on the National Model Project, a large computer model of >the U.S. economy. He is also the director of the System Dynamics in >Education Project (SDEP), which is developing ways to use system dynamics >and computer modeling as a foundation for a new kind of kindergarten >through 12th grade education. The SDEP project at MIT is writing Road Maps >which is a guide to learning system dynamics. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >---- > >Papers by Prof. Jay Forrester available online: > >System Dynamics and the Lessons of 35 Years (D-4224-4) [332K] > >The Beginning of System Dynamics (D-4165-1) [288K], provides a personal >point of view about the development of system dynamics. > >Learning through System Dynamics as Preparation for the 21st Century >(D-4434-1) [284K], explains the advantages of a system dynamics education >for the future. > >System Dynamics and Learner-Centered-Learning in Kindergarten through 12th >Grade Education (D-4337) [218K], presents views on how system dynamics may >improve classroom learning. > >System Dynamics and K-12 Teachers (D-4665) [218K], is Prof. Jay Forrester's >most recent writing on using system dynamics in kindergarten through >twelfth grade education. > >Diseöando El Futuro (D-4808) [32K], is a Spanish translation of the paper >Prof. Jay Forrester presented at the University of Seville on December >15th, 1998. This paper talks about how Dr. Forrester believes system >dynamics will help in understanding the many complex systems in our society. > >Designing the Future (D-4726) [32K], is the English version of the paper >Prof. Jay Forrester presented at the University of Seville on December >15th, 1998. This paper talks about how Dr. Forrester believes system >dynamics will help in understanding the many complex systems in our society. > >Market Growth as Influenced by Capital Investment [225K], from Industrial >Management Review, Vol. IX, No. 2, Winter 1968. This classic system >dynamics paper discusses why having enough capacity to meet demand is so >important for a new company. > >These papers are in a format called pdf which is viewable with the Adobe >Acrobat Reader. If you need instructions for the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you >can visit the Adobe site or our help page. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >---- > >Page Address: http://sysdyn.mit.edu/people/jay-forrester.html >__________________________________________ > > > >