K-12 In-service Teacher Training

Dr. Diana M. Fisher

Teacher of mathematics for 30+ years and System Dynamics (SD) Modeling for 20 years, at the secondary school level. She has taught mathematics and SD modeling courses at the high school and university level and teaches 3 online SD modeling courses for instructors each year.
She provided a NASA sponsored, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workshop entitled “Modeling, Analysis and Simulation in Mathematics Using System Dynamics” (2008) and a two-week MODSym (Modeling and Simulation) course (2013), both for secondary school Mathematics teachers and both in Langley, Virginia.
Dr. Fisher has written and directed two National Science Foundation grants. The first grant was entitled Cross-Curricular Systems Thinking and Dynamics Using STELLA (CC-STADUS) from 1993 – 1997. The second grant was entitled Cross-Curricular Systems: Training and In-service (CC-SUSTAIN) 1997 – 2001. In each of these grants secondary school teachers from the disciplines of math, science, and social science were trained in the design of SD models and they wrote curriculum for their classes during the three-week summer training. She has written two books containing System Dynamics modeling lessons published by isee systems, inc.

Presentation summary: In this presentation strategies used for trying to interest (US) high school mathematics and science teachers in System Dynamics (SD) modeling will be highlighted. Diana will also present a list of modeling topics that demonstrate the value of SD within math and science curriculum.

Alan Ticotsky

Alan Ticotsky has worked as an educator since 1972. As a classroom teacher, he taught in grades 1 – 6. He also served as a K-8 Curriculum Coordinator and as a systems thinking mentor for grades 5 – 12.
Since the 1990s, Alan has employed systems thinking and system dynamics tools with students and in adult workshops. His most recent book, Now What? A Call to Action, contains environmental systems lessons. He is coauthor, with Rob Quaden, of The Shape of Change, a book that engages students in games and simulations that teach basic system dynamics concepts and encourages students to transfer this learning across the curriculum. Alan has also written four science activity and instructional books – Science Giants, a trilogy of science books on physical science, life science, Earth and space and Who Says You Can’t Teach Science.
Alan has led workshops, designed curriculum, and been a consultant for many organizations, including multiple public schools, NASA, Boeing, New England League of Middle Schools, and the National Science Teachers Association.

Presentation summary: This short presentation includes examples of activities designed to help middle school teachers (US grades 5-8, approximate student ages 10 – 14) implement systems thinking and system dynamics in their classrooms. Alan will briefly cover major ideas and tools that can support curriculum and enrich student understanding.

Sheri Marlin

Sheri Marlin is Executive Director of the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, and a life-long educator who believes that a systems approach makes a difference to learners of all ages. She has been involved with systems thinking for 30 years and a member of the Waters Center team for 15 years.

Presentation summary: We have much to learn about making systems thinking and system dynamics accessible to all from the educators who work with our youngest learners. This brief presentation will include examples of work from students age 4 to 8, strategies make the system dynamics accessible and implications for building ST/SD capacity in young children.