A Systemic View of the World

img-S06236 course-vid.png

Exemplar Type: COURSE
Title: A Systemic View of the World
Grades: Graduate
Discipline: Interdisciplinary
Submitted By: Ming Wei Koh


Learning Outcomes - Systemic View of the World

Developing an understanding of sustainability issues as interconnected and holistic by: experiencing Nature’s Design; developing systems thinking; developing a historic and current understanding of the sustainability movement and sustainability education; understanding and valuing the importance of multiple perspectives; articulating a broad‐based understanding of sustainability education including its interconnected relationships between ecological, socio‐cultural, political, economic, and ethical aspects.



BENCHMARKS REPRESENTED IN THIS EXEMPLAR

Big Ideas

  • There is an appropriate rate and scale for every living thing and they may not be the same in every circumstance

  • We are all in this together: We are interdependent on each other and on the natural systems

  • A sustainable solution solves more than one problem at a time and minimizes the creation of new problems

  • Every system is perfectly formed to get the results it gets

  • We all depend on and are responsible for “the commons”, i.e., what we share and hold in trust for future generations. Recognize and Protect the Commons

  • We are all responsible for the difference we make. Everything we do and everything we don’t do makes a difference

Applied Knowledge and Actions

  • Laws and Principles that govern the physical and biological world

  • The Many Ways of Knowing

  • System Dynamics and Change

  • Multiple Perspectives

Higher Order Thinking Skills

  • Anticipatory: Futures Thinking

  • Emergent: Design Thinking

  • Complex: [Living] Systems Thinking

  • Mindful: Questioning

  • Mindful: Reflective Thinking

Dispositions

  • Curious

  • Mindful

  • Open Minded

  • Risk Accepting

  • Place/Community Conscious

Applications and Actions

  • Honor the specific knowledge and skills that each person and culture brings

  • Learn from children and nature

  • Accept responsibility for the consequences of design

  • Contribute to the regenerative capacity of the systems upon which we depend

  • Count and value all the capital (natural, financial, human and social)

  • Design for whole systems integrity with ecological principles and physical laws in mind

  • Ask different questions and actively listen for the answer

  • Act wisely individually and collectively, with precaution and in context