Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

To develop insights regarding a situation of interest there are a number of things should be considered to ensure a view of the relevant influences.

Diagram from CDC conference.

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

21st Century Systems Thinking Skills as depicted b Viktor Vojko. Adapted from Systems thinking: critical thinking skills for the 1990s and beyond by Barry Richmond.

A Limits to Growth Systems Archetype consists of a Reinforcing Loop, the growth of which, after some success, is offset by the action of a Balancing Loop.

Part 1 demonstrates Picture primitives and Links to create representations of interactions. These are made visually attractive because the Picture primitives are overlayed with images.

Are there environmental/physical limits to humanity? Based on the Are There Limits? blog post by Tom Fiddaman.

This diagram presents the valid relationships between stocks, flows, and parameters. Ghosts of Stocks, Flows, and Converters can be created as needed.

A quick set of examples for creating a simulation in Insight Maker.

A Tragedy of the Commons situation exists whenever two or more activities, each, which in order to produce results, rely on a shared limited resource. Results for these activities continue to develop as long as their use of the limited resource doesn't exceed the resource limit. Once this limit is reached the results produced by each activity are limited to the level at which the resource is replenished. As an example, consider multiple departments with an organization using IT resources, until they've exhausted IT capacity.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

A small change in one variable can have a marked impact on multiple variables. Run the model [quits change] = 0  and consider the output. What happens if  you change [quits change] = 5. Run the model to find out. Was the change what you expected?

Illustrates the effect of sleep, exercise, and lifestyle factors on one's level of energy.

Clone of Causal Loop Diagrams for New Community Paradigms. Use the defined relationships and complete the loops to create a reinforcing and balancing structure. 

Balancing Loop with Stock & Flow Diagram.

Insight Maker is completely web based making it easy to develop and share models, allows concurrent multi-user editing, and just happens to be FREE, which a pretty good feature/price ratio.

Very begining lab.

The Home Heating System can be used to demonstrate how we get caught in dilemmas and become victims of ourselves.

The Home Heating System can be used to demonstrate how we get caught in dilemmas and become victims of ourselves.

When one undertakes to create a model there are a number of guidelines that are considered essential for consideration if there is to be a success with the model.

Introduce the concept of modeling and simulation.

The model construction process is actually a balancing loop which endeavors to employ an abstract version of real events to form a model which produces conclusions and behavior which mimic the real events.

The generic stock & flow form for a balancing loop.