Teaching and Learning Model Building.

The three papers below called Teaching Notes describe the structure of my introductory system dynamics modeling course. But it’s more than that. It’s the best structuring of the path to becoming a modeler that I ever managed to develop. The Notes describe and illustrate the seven necessary phases in that path — Exploring existing models, Copying models, Adding structure, Correcting or improving structure, and ending with three modeling exercises increasing in difficulty: Modeling from text, Modeling a familiar problem, and Conceptualizing a personally chosen problem.

The three PPT presentations below the Notes appear at different stages of the course.

  • Two men working together on a laptop in an office setting with papers, a pen, and coffee mug on the table.

    Model Teaching I

    Overview of the three Teaching Notes, and descriptions of the first three classes at the University at Albany. The picture shows Etiënne and Jac at Radboud University Nijmegen.

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  • George in conversation with students

    Model Teaching II

    Descriptions and examples of the middle four classes and exercises in the generic course outline. Exercises give less help, require more initiative and skill.

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  • Students working in pairs on system dynamics models

    Model Teaching III

    The last sections and capstone exercises in the generic course, moving toward mastery. Students here are in the European Masters Program in System Dynamics.

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  • Hand-drawn graphs illustrating tobacco use trends, including adult smoking prevalence over time, with a focus on the interest in quitting. The image is titled 'Tobacco Use Sector' and is attributed to Rockefeller College of Public Affairs at the University of Albany, dated November 2012.

    Model Conceptualization

    A teaching PPT showing the detailed thinking stages in the dynamics and structure of a new model.

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  • Flow chart illustrating the complex interactions between factors affecting tobacco control, smoking, and public health risks. Includes entities like government awareness, tobacco revenues, litigation, marketing activities, health costs, public awareness, and smoking norms. Created by GP Richardson, Rockefeller College, December 2012.

    Unfolding for Understanding

    “Unfolding” is the step-by-step revealing sections in a map or model image. It’s the only way people can understand complex model structure.

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  • Graphs showing average annual cost and average time since revaluation from 1990 to 2010. Includes lines depicting data trends. Presented by Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany, December 2012.

    GPR's last system dynamics class (2012)

    A PPT reviewing what we’ve done and trying to communicate what’s really important for students’ future work.

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