scholarly journals Sociohydrologic Systems Thinking: An Analysis of Undergraduate Students’ Operationalization and Modeling of Coupled Human-Water Systems

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Lally ◽  
Cory Forbes
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Environmental Literacy ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
System Components ◽  
Student Models ◽  
Written Explanations ◽  
Interdisciplinary Course

One of the keys to science and environmental literacy is systems thinking. Learning how to think about the interactions between systems, the far-reaching effects of a system, and the dynamic nature of systems are all critical outcomes of science learning. However, students need support to develop systems thinking skills in undergraduate geoscience classrooms. While systems thinking-focused instruction has the potential to benefit student learning, gaps exist in our understanding of students’ use of systems thinking to operationalize and model SHS, as well as their metacognitive evaluation of systems thinking. To address this need, we have designed, implemented, refined, and studied an introductory-level, interdisciplinary course focused on coupled human-water, or sociohydrologic, systems. Data for this study comes from three consecutive iterations of the course and involves student models and explanations for a socio-hydrologic issue (n = 163). To analyze this data, we counted themed features of the drawn models and applied an operationalization rubric to the written responses. Analyses of the written explanations reveal statistically-significant differences between underlying categories of systems thinking (F(5, 768) = 401.6, p < 0.05). Students were best able to operationalize their systems thinking about problem identification (M = 2.22, SD = 0.73) as compared to unintended consequences (M = 1.43, SD = 1.11). Student-generated systems thinking models revealed statistically significant differences between system components, patterns, and mechanisms, F(2, 132) = 3.06, p < 0.05. Students focused most strongly on system components (M = 13.54, SD = 7.15) as compared to related processes or mechanisms. Qualitative data demonstrated three types of model limitation including scope/scale, temporal, and specific components/mechanisms/patterns excluded. These findings have implications for supporting systems thinking in undergraduate geoscience classrooms, as well as insight into links between these two skills.

Identifying the challenging characteristics of systems thinking encountered by undergraduate students in chemistry problem-solving of gas laws

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Chun Chen ◽  
Kimberley Wilson ◽  
Huann-shyang Lin
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Teaching Strategies ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Complex Chemistry ◽  
Chemistry Education Research

Systems thinking has been an educational priority for more than a decade, yet its related assessment and teaching strategies have been understudied in the chemistry education research community. Through the lens of systems thinking, this study explores how undergraduate students connect and translate their conceptual representations when they are involved in contextualised problem-solving. The ‘Contextualised Problem Solving’ (CPS) assessment instrument contains four open-ended questions about gas law. Three different cohorts of students registered in a physical science course (2016 Fall, 2017 Spring, 2017 Fall semesters) participated in the problem-solving component of CPS. The results showed that only 8% of students were capable of higher order systems thinking ability when they engaged in problem solving. Over half of the students failed to retrieve essential concepts in problem situations. Most of the participants demonstrated difficulties in organising related systems’ components, understanding the cyclic nature of relationships among systems, and identifying limitations in a specific problem context. By identifying the difficulties and challenges of systems thinking experienced by undergraduate students in solving complex chemistry problems, these findings have the potential to provide fresh insights into effective teaching strategies to promote students’ higher order thinking skills.

scholarly journals Systems Thinking Skills of Preschool Children in Early Childhood Education Contexts from Turkey and Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Şebnem Feriver ◽  
Refika Olgan ◽  
Gaye Teksöz ◽  
Matthias Barth
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Childhood Education

This study presents an attempt to contribute to the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by conceptualizing systems thinking skills of four- to six-year-old preschool children with the role of age in this particular skill. For this purpose, we developed and tested a method and instruments to assess and conceptualize systems thinking skills of 52 preschool children in early childhood education contexts from Turkey and Germany. By employing qualitative case study research, we concluded that the young children showed some signs of complex understanding regarding systems thinking in terms of detecting obvious gradual changes and two-step domino and/or multiple one-way causalities, as well as describing behavior of a balancing loop. However, their capacity was found to be limited when it comes to detecting a reinforcing loop, understanding system mechanisms by acknowledging the unintended consequences, detecting hidden components and processes, demonstrating multi-dimensional perspective, solving problems through high-leverage interventions, and predicting the future behavior of the system. Age had a notable effect on the total systems thinking mean scores of the participants.

Developing undergraduate students’ systems thinking skills with an InTeGrate module

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Gilbert ◽  
Deborah S. Gross ◽  
Karl J. Kreutz
Keyword(s):  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Thinking Skills

Cognitive and behavioural environmental concern among university students in a Canadian city: Implications for institutional interventions

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (01) ◽  
pp. 28-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rozzet Jurdi-Hage ◽  
H. Sam Hage ◽  
Henry P.H. Chow
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Causal Structure ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Environmental Literacy ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
New Ecological Paradigm ◽  
Cross Sectional

AbstractInformed by Stern and colleagues’ value-belief-norm theory and their earlier empirical work, we examined levels and predictors of cognitive and behavioural environmental concern (EC) of university students in a Canadian postsecondary context. Data for this study were obtained through completion of self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 421 undergraduate students attending a public university in Saskatchewan, a province heavily focused on expanding resource extraction. The study used a descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional methodology. Statistical analysis was performed in three parts: (a) univariate description of students’ cognitive and behavioural EC indicators; (b) bivariate associations to assess the nature and direction of the relationships between EC measures; and (c) multivariate analyses to test the causal structure of the theoretical model. Results showed no widespread acceptance of the ‘New Ecological Paradigm’. Students were slightly more prone to place responsibility for environmental protection at the door of government and industry than themselves. Respondents practised a range of environmentally supportive behaviours (ESB) with varying intensities. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses provided support for several of the theory’s propositions in predicting generalised and specific environmental beliefs and ESB. Findings highlighted the complex relationships between personal background, academic and cognitive variables and ESB. That formal instruction on the environment influenced cognitive and behavioural EC, both directly and indirectly, suggests it is essential universities have formal curricula that expose students to the types of environmental knowledge, awareness, and critical thinking skills to promote environmental literacy and address unsustainable lifestyles and attitudes. Institutional interventions, including universities’ role as ‘effective change agents’, are discussed.

Integrating Disciplines in a Plant Chemistry Laboratory Module to Enhance Interdisciplinary and Scientific Thinking in Undergraduate Students

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Busta ◽  
Sabrina E. Russo
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
Chemistry Laboratory ◽  
Scientific Thinking ◽  
Written Communication ◽  
Plant Chemistry ◽  
Hands On

Here, we describe a hands-on medicinal plant chemistry laboratory module (Phytochemical Laboratory Activities for iNtegrative Thinking and Enhanced Competencies; PLANTEC) for undergraduates that targets the development of core competencies in (i) critical thinking and analysis of text and data, (ii) interdisciplinary and systems thinking, (iii) oral and written communication of science, and (iv) teamwork and collaboration.<br>

scholarly journals Active teaching model to promote critical thinking

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-298
Author(s):  
Fábio da Costa Carbogim ◽  
Larissa Bertacchini de Oliveira ◽  
Melina Mafra Toledo ◽  
Flávia Batista Barbosa de Sá Diaz ◽  
Greicy Kelly Gouveia Dias Bittencourt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Educational Intervention ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Teaching Model ◽  
Active Teaching ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Teaching Learning

ABSTRACT Objective: To present the experience of elaboration and implementation of the Active Teaching Model to Promote Critical Thinking (MEAPC), associated to Problem-Based Learning (PBL), for undergraduate students in Nursing. Method: Case report on the experience of the educational intervention (MEAPC + PBL) with undergraduate students in Nursing, in a 20-hour course on Basic Life Support (BLS). The MEAPC was validated by judges to guide the analysis of clinical cases. Critical Thinking (CT) skills were assessed using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test. Result: The educational intervention took place in two phases: elaboration and implementation, allowing not only the production of knowledge about BLS, but also the development of CT and exchange of experiences for teaching-learning. Conclusion: The association of the MEAPC to the PBL in the course of BLS organized the learning, gave opportunity to acquire knowledge and to stimulate the skills of the CT.

scholarly journals Beyond the Central Dogma: Model-Based Learning of How Genes Determine Phenotypes

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. ar4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Reinagel ◽  
Elena Bray Speth
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Molecular Genetics ◽  
Systems Thinking ◽  
Protein Function ◽  
Model Building ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Skills Acquisition ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Scaffolded Instruction ◽  
Introductory Biology Course

In an introductory biology course, we implemented a learner-centered, model-based pedagogy that frequently engaged students in building conceptual models to explain how genes determine phenotypes. Model-building tasks were incorporated within case studies and aimed at eliciting students’ understanding of 1) the origin of variation in a population and 2) how genes/alleles determine phenotypes. Guided by theory on hierarchical development of systems-thinking skills, we scaffolded instruction and assessment so that students would first focus on articulating isolated relationships between pairs of molecular genetics structures and then integrate these relationships into an explanatory network. We analyzed models students generated on two exams to assess whether students’ learning of molecular genetics progressed along the theoretical hierarchical sequence of systems-thinking skills acquisition. With repeated practice, peer discussion, and instructor feedback over the course of the semester, students’ models became more accurate, better contextualized, and more meaningful. At the end of the semester, however, more than 25% of students still struggled to describe phenotype as an output of protein function. We therefore recommend that 1) practices like modeling, which require connecting genes to phenotypes; and 2) well-developed case studies highlighting proteins and their functions, take center stage in molecular genetics instruction.

scholarly journals Mathematical Critical Thinking and Curiosity Attitude in Problem Based Learning and Cognitive Conflict Strategy: A Study in Number Theory course

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zetriuslita Zetriuslita ◽  
Wahyudin Wahyudin ◽  
Jarnawi Jarnawi
Keyword(s):  
Number Theory ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Conflict Strategy

This research aims to describe and analyze result of applying Problem-Based Learning and Cognitive Conflict Strategy (PBLCCS) in increasing students’ Mathematical Critical Thinking (MCT) ability and Mathematical Curiosity Attitude (MCA). Adopting a quasi-experimental method with pretest-posttest control group design and using mixed method with sequential explanatory strategy, the study involves undergraduate students of Mathematics Education Program at a private university in Riau, Indonesia, academic year 2015/2016 enrolled in Number Theory course. Quantitative data were obtained from essay test and questionnaire whereas qualitative data were from interview and observation. The findings show that; (1) there is a difference between MCT ability taught by PBLCCS and Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), (2) there is no significant difference between MCA taught by PBLCCS and EDI, (3) students still face obstacles in developing their critical thinking skills when solving matematical problems.

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