ENS251 Systems thinking for sustainable development

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2012
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dominika Dzwonkovska (lecturer), RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Dana Pantůčková
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 13. 3. 18:00–21:15 U34, Thu 15. 3. 16:00–19:30 U34
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
Course objectives
Course objectives:
1.To foster awarness that sustainable development needs a holistic approach;
2.To convey basic information on Systems Thinking and its possible usage for solving sustainable development problems;
3.To present and teach participants how to use chosen Dynamic Modelling instruments for analysing sustainable development issues. Learning outcomes:
At the end of the course students will have a general knowledge on Systems Thinking and possibilities of using it for better understanding complexity of sustainable development issues. Students will know how to use selected Dynamic Modelling instruments for analysing sustainable development issues.
Syllabus
  • Course content:
  • 1.Introductory lecture on the chosen aspects of the following topics: course overview, general introduction to sustainable development and necessity of holistic approach, systems thinking; system dynamics approach and history; cognitive barriers; mental models; the fifth discipline by Peter Senge (around 4 hours)
  • 2.Causal Loop Diagrams: General theoretical introduction and practical workshop. (around 4 hours)
  • In 2012 the course will be taught in the week 12 - 16 March in two four-hour blocks.
Teaching methods
The course will consist of lectures combined with structured discussions, class excercises and systems analysis work in small groups. The course will be taught in English.
Assessment methods
The students will be evaluated on a pass-fail scale on the basis of attendance and successful completion of group systems analysis projects.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2012, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2012/ENS251