• Introduction to Road maps [61K](D-4500-6).

This guide is a brief introduction to Road Maps, it gives a summary of the contents of each chapter, advises on the best way to use Road Maps and explains what you will need to begin your study.

• Road Maps 1: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [38K] (D-4501-6)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• System Dynamics and K-12 Teachers [159K] (J. Forrester) (D-4665-4)

Introduces systems and feedback loops, two important ideas which will be further developed in more readings throughout Road Maps. A strong grasp of systems and feedback loops will build a good foundation for learning more advanced principles in system dynamics.

• System Dynamics and Learner-Centered-Learning in Kindergarten through 12th Grade Education [49K] (Jay W. Forrester) (D-4337)

An argument for the necessity of change in the educational process and the applicability of system dynamics in K-12 education.

• Simulating Hamlet in the Classroom [74K]  (Pamela Hopkins) (D-4540-1)

An example of a STELLA model successfully used in a high school English classroom.

• System Dynamics Meets the Press, an excerpt from The Global Citizen [29K] (Donella Meadows) (D-4143-1)

A narration of experiences of a systems thinker and the struggle to use systems concepts correctly in today’s society.

• Counterintuitive Behavior of Social Systems [464K]  (Jay W. Forrester) (D-4468-2)

An introduction to the concepts of system dynamics, discussing social policies and their derivation from incomplete understanding of complex systems.

• Road Maps 2: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [65K]  (D-4502-7)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• The First Step [367K]  (Leslie Martin) (D-4694)

A hands-on introduction to system dynamics modeling that uses a series of simple population models.

• Beginner Modeling Exercises [135K]  (Leslie Martin) (D-4347-7)

Exercises modeling constant flows. Develops understanding of the basic stock-and-flow structure through examples taken from a wide variety of systems.

• An Introduction to Feedback [132K]  (Leslie Martin) (D-4691)

A first look at the positive and negative feedback loops found in system dynamics models.

• Graphical Integration Exercises Part1: Exogenous Rates  [106K] (A. Oh) (D-4547-1)

An introduction to graphical integration of constant flows and step function flows.

• Introduction to Computer Simulation, Chapter 13 [339K] (N. Roberts et al.)

A simple and understandable explanation of levels and rates.

• Formulating Models of Simple Systems Using Vensim PLE [938K]  (Nelson Repenning) (D-4697-2)

A beginner’s tutorial for Vensim PLE.

• Road Maps 3: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [75K]  (D-4503-7)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Graphical Integration Exercises Part 2: Ramp Functions [109K] (Kevin Agatstein, Lucia Breierova) (D-4571)

Graphical integration of linearly increasing and decreasing flows.

• Beginner Modeling Exercises Section 2: Mental simulation of Positive Feedback [46K] (Joseph Whelan) (D-4487)

Simple exercises on positive feedback systems.

• Beginner Modeling Exercises Section 3: Mental simulation of Negative Feedback [88K] (Helen Zhu) (D-4536-2)

Simple exercises on negative feedback systems.

• Study Notes in System Dynamics, Exercises 4,5 (Michael Goodman)

Exercises on first-order positive and negative feedback loops.

• Introduction to Computer Simulation, Chapter 15 (Nancy Roberts, et al.)

Using simulation to analyze simple positive and negative feedback loops.

• Study Notes in System Dynamics, Section 3.10-3.12 (Michael Goodman)

Simple examples of negative feedback systems.

• Study Notes in System Dynamics, Chapters 4,5 (Michael Goodman)

An introduction to S-shaped growth, and a stepwise construction of a simple model.

• Urban Dynamics (Jay W. Forrester)

An application of system dynamics to study urban problems.

• Road Maps 4: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [61K]  (D-4504-6)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Generic Structures: First order positive feedback loops  [80K]  (Stephanie Albin, Mark Choudhari) (D-4474-2)

An introduction to the generic structure in positive feedback systems.

• Generic Structures: First order negative feedback loops [88K]  (Stephanie Albin) (D-4475-2)

An introduction to the generic structure in negative feedback systems.

• Beginner Modeling Exercises Section 4: Mental Simulation: Adding constant flows [83K]  (Alan Coronado) (D-4546-2)

Simple exercises on introducing a constant flow to positive and negative feedback systems.

• Building the Fish Banks Model & Renewable Resource Depletion [52K] (Joseph Whelan, Matthew Halbower) (D-4543-2)

Description of The Fishing Game and the building of a STELLA model of a fishing system.

• Problems with Causal Loop Diagrams [204K]  (George Richardson) (D-3312-1)

A discussion of causal loop diagrams and the inherent problems associated with them.

• Road Maps 5: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [74K] (D-4505-7)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Introduction to Delays, Chapter 17 (Nancy Roberts, et al.)

Introducing the uses of delays in computer simulation.

• Answers to Exercises for Chapter 17: Introduction To Delays from Introduction to Computer Simulation [80K] (Kamil Msefer, Mark Choudhari) (D-4415-6)

Solutions to exercises introducing the use of delays in computer simulation.

• Beginner Modeling Exercises Section 5: Mental simulation of Combining Feedbacks in First-Order Systems [134K] (Laughton Stanley, Helen Zhu) (D-4593-2)

Simple exercises on systems producing S-shaped growth.

• Generic Structures: S-shaped growth I [87K] (Terri Duhon, Marc Glick) (D-4432-2)

An introduction to generic structures in systems producing S-shaped growth.

• Dynamic Simulation Models: How Valid Are They? [24K] (Raymond Shreckengost) (D-4463)

An outline of several tests that can be applied to a model to test validity.

• Teaching System Dynamics: Looking at Epidemics [212K] (Will Glass-Husain) (D-4243)

Material for teaching system dynamics concepts through a game based on the spread of an epidemic.

• Graphical Integration Exercises Part 3: Combining Flows [222K] (Kevin Agatstein, Lucia Breierova) (D-4596)

Graphical integration of combined inflows and outflows.

• Beyond the Limits (Donella Meadows, et al.)

An insightful book about the need for a transition to a sustainable world. Beyond the Limits may be out of print but available from Amazon.com as a used book.

• Road Maps 6: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [85K] (D-4506-6)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Economic Supply and Demand [243K] (Joseph Whelan, Kamil Msefer) (D-4388-2)

A system dynamics perspective on supply and demand.

• Generic Structures in Oscillating Systems I [88K] (Celeste Chung) (D-4426-3)

Two real-life scenarios illustrating the transferability of an oscillation structure.

• Exploring S-Shaped Growth [229K] (Leslie Martin) (D-4476-2)

Development of the concept of generic structures in systems producing S-shaped growth.

• Modeling Exercises: Section 1 [802K] (Joseph Whelan) (D-4421-2)

The first of a series of independent modeling experiences.

• Systems Thinking: Critical Thinking Skills for the 1990s and Beyond [696K] (Barry Richmond) (D-4565)

An argument for teaching systems thinking through learner-centered learning as well as the application of systems thinking to the acquisition of various critical thinking skills.

• Road Maps 7: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics [113K] (D-4507-3)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Unexpected Behaviors in Higher-Order Positive Feedback Loops [112K] (Aaron Ashford) (D-4455-2)

A discussion of possible behaviors that can occur in higher-order positive feedback loops.

• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Examining Dimensional Inconsistency [16K] (Michael Shayne Gary) (D-4452-1)

Examination of a model in which a dimensional inconsistency mistake was made, and a suggested improvement of the model.

• Modeling Exercises: Section 2 [230K] (Joseph Whelan) (D-4451-3)

The second in a series of independent modeling experiences exploring an urban dynamics model and offering an exercise on mental simulation.

• Graphical Integration Exercises Part 4: Reverse Graphical Integration [158K] (Laughton Stanley) (D-4603)

Explanation and methods of the process of reverse graphical integration: determining the graph of the net flow from the graph of the stock.

• System Dynamics, Systems Thinking, and Soft OR [32K] (Jay W. Forrester) (D-4405-1)

The author’s opinion on the differences between system dynamics, systems thinking, and soft operations research.

• Road Maps 8: A Guide To Learning System Dynamics [109K] (D-4508-3)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Building a System Dynamics Model Part 1: Conceptualization [129K] (Stephanie Albin) (D-4597)

A series of papers on the process of model-building starts with the first stage: conceptualization.

• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Use of Generic Structures and the Reality of Stocks and Flows [67K] (Lucia Breierova) (D-4646-2)

Examination and correction of a model, forced to fit a generic structure, in which the stocks do not represent real-world accumulations.

• Oscillating Systems 2: Sustained Oscillation [199K] (Kevin Agatstein) (D-4602-2)

A detailed explanation of the structural causes of sustained oscillation illustrated with two real-life examples.

• An Introduction to Sensitivity Analysis [397K] (Lucia Breierova, Mark Choudhari) (D-4526-2)

An introduction to the concepts and methods of sensitivity analysis of system dynamics models.

• Learning through System Dynamics as Preparation for the 21st Century [41K] (Jay W. Forrester) (D-4434-1)

Prof. Forrester’s keynote speech at the 1994 Systems Thinking and Dynamic Modeling Conference for K-12 Education proposes objectives that should be achieved through a system dynamics education.

• Road Maps 9: A Guide To Learning System Dynamics [113K] (D-4509-3)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• The Credit Card Model [80K] (Manas Ratha) (D-4683-2)

A model-building exercise that uses a simple credit-card model to demonstrate a characteristic behavior of complex systems: short-term benefit, long term cost.

• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Table Functions [96K] (Leslie Martin) (D-4653-2)

A mistakes and misunderstandings paper that explains how to formulate robust and dimensionally consistent table functions.

• Generic Structures: Overshoot and Collapse [322K] (Lucia Breierova) (D-4480)

An introduction to the generic structure producing overshoot and collapse, using several real-world examples.

• Graphical Integration Exercises Part Five: Qualitative Graphical Integration [150K] (Manas Ratha) (D-4675)

Exercises developing an intuitive, qualitative understanding of the process of graphical integration.

• A Skeptic’s Guide to Computer Models [98K] (John D. Sterman) (D-4101-1)

An overview of various computer modeling techniques, their characteristics, capabilities, and limitations.

• Road Maps 10: A Guide To Learning System Dynamics [79K] (D-4510-1)

This guide will lead you through the readings. The guide provides a summary of the important insights and highlights the system principles learned in each chapter of Road Maps.

• Improving Modeling Skills: Building A System Dynamics Model, Part II [165K] (Aaron Diamond and Premraj Janardanan) (D-4866)

• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Common Formulation Errors [407K] (Lewis Kaneshiro) (D-4870-1)
• Generic Structures: Exponential Smoothing [178K] (Kevin Stange) (D-4782)
• Generic Structures: Damped Oscillations [318K] (Kamin et al) (D-4690)
• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Time Constants and Decay Fractions (Mila Getmansky) (D-4679)
• Mistakes and Misunderstandings: Examining Dimensional Inconsistency (M. Shayne Gary) (D-4272-7)
• System Dynamics Models: Tests for Building Confidence in System Dynamics Models (Jay Forrester and Peter Senge) (D-2926-7)
• Confidence in Models of Social Behavior–With Emphasis on System Dynamics Models (Jay Forrester) (D-1967)

• Road Maps Glossary [24K] (D-4498)

A dictionary of commonly used terms in the Road Maps series.

• Formulating Models of Simple Systems Using Vensim PLE [938K] (Nelson Repenning) (D-4697-2)
  A beginner’s tutorial for Vensim PLE.
• Vensim Conversion Guide [15K] (Aaron Diamond) (D-4856)

Highlights some of the differences in modeling with STELLA and Vensim PLE.

• System Dynamics Model Correctness Checklist [11K] (Rebekah Wabha and Danny Lai) (D-4851)

A paper that describes some important steps for constructing a system dynamics model.

• Table Functions [135K] (Lei Lei and Nathaniel Choge) (D-4587)

Table functions are helpful in formulating no-linear relationships between two variables.