inspiration

“Over the past three years Linda Booth Sweeney has contributed her Systems Thinking perspective to development of educational material for SEED. She has authored content for the Global Climate Change and Energy theme on the topics of Stock and Flow and Feedback. She also was part of the team that developed the Climate Challenge simulation.

“Linda is the author of a forthcoming SEED book, Connected Wisdom, which uses folk tales from around the world to illustrate principles of living systems and their relation to the environment.

“It has been an amazing collaboration with Linda, bringing an opportunity to youth to think differently and to learn about interdependency, listening to nature which gives us hope that the young generation might be able to come up with sustainable solutions.”

Simone Amber,
vice president Schlumberger Limited
and founder of SEED (Schlumberger Excellence in Education Development)

Learning About Systems:

Computer Simulations

Computer animations and simulations are another highly effective way for people of all ages to learn how living systems work. By interacting with these computer animations, we’re given an unusual opportunity to become students of our own behaviors. Are we acting systemically? Are we considering unintended consequences? What if the amount of CO₂ emissions continues to grow? With the help of a simulation, we can see more of the whole system.

Tools & Techniques for Learning About Systems:

Folktales & Children’s Stories | Experiential Exercises | Computer Simulations
Integrated Curriculum | Puppet Shows | Everyday Artifacts

In collaboration with SEED, I've authored content for several systems-related animations, including:

The Climate Challenge
Using a simulated bathtub, this animation helps us to explore the dynamics of climate change.

Stock and Flow
By controlling the level of water in a bathtub, we can learn how “stock and flow” structures work.

Foresters and Lumberjacks
By simulating a small fir-tree forest, we explore the relationship between the number (the stock) and how fast the trees are cut down or replenished (the rates).

Feedback, Feedback, Feedback
In this animation, we explore feedback (closed loops of cause and effect) as a speaker’s voice travels from microphone to loudspeaker back through microphone.