• Korean System Dynamics Review
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.235-252
• /
• 2007

This study focused on the analysis of the abilities and characteristics of the systems thinking for pre-service elementary teachers. Systems thinking is defined as the ability to see the world as a complex system in which one understands that everything is connected to everything else. For this study, 345 subjects carrying of the 2nd grade were selected and participated in making out the protocol developed by Sweeney and Sterman(2000) for the estimating ability of the systems thinking. As a result, the proportion of the correct answers based on the total points of view was 63%. However, the proportion of correct answer was considerably different according to the gender. The women group showed 53%, while the men group was 76%. Especially, there was a great difference in the rates of correct answer depending on their academic tracks of the humanities or natural science courses in the high school. The average rates of the correct answers for the natural science and the human science were 84 and 46%, respectively. Consequently, the ability of the systems thinking for pre-service elementary teachers is highly related with their gender and learning experience in the high school. The results of this study may contribute the practical use of the systems thinking in the area of the science education.

• Korean Medical Education Review
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.212-228
• /
• 2023

Systems thinking, a linking domain of health systems science (HSS), is an approach that investigates specific problems from a holistic perspective. It supports improving patients' health, fulfilling their health needs, and anticipating issues that threaten patient safety within the healthcare system. It also helps solve problems through critical thinking and ref lection. This study aimed to develop an curriculum on systems thinking, explore the effectiveness of the course, and investigate the applicability of HSS education at individual universities. In this study, the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation) model was utilized to design, develop, implement, and evaluate an elective course on systems thinking. In the design process, learning outcomes and goals were developed, and educational content, teaching-learning methods, and student evaluation methods were linked. In the development process, class materials and evaluation materials were prepared. In the implementation process, the course was implemented, and the evaluation process analyzed the results of learning performance and curriculum assessments. The evaluation found the following results. First, the students in the study realized the importance of systems thinking and experienced the need for systems thinking through non-medical and medical situations. Second, the students were very satisfied with the learning activities in the course (mean=4.84), and the results of the self-competence evaluation, conducted before and after the course, also showed a significant improvement. This study confirmed the effectiveness of the elective course, and its results can serve as a reference for developing an HSS curriculum.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.17 no.7
• /
• pp.113-123
• /
• 2017

This research is designed to review the systems thinking and STEAM theory while ascertaining the effects of the classroom application of the STEAM programs based on systems thinking appropriate for studying climate change. The systems thinking based STEAM program has been developed by researchers and experts, who had participated in expert meetings in a continued manner. The program was applied to science classes over the course of eight weeks. Therefore, the application effects of the systems thinking based STEAM program were analyzed in students' systems thinking, STEAM semantics survey, and students' academic achievement. The findings are as follows. First, the test group has shown a statistically meaningful difference in the systems thinking analysis compared to the control group in the four subcategories of 'Systems Analysis', 'Personal Mastery', 'Shared Vision' and 'Team Learning' except for 'Mental Model'. Second, in the pre- and post-knowledge tests, the independent sample t-test results in the areas of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics show statistically meaningful differences compared to the control group. Third, in the academic performance test regarding climate change, the test group displayed higher achievement than the control group. In conclusion, the system-based STEAM program is considered appropriate to enhance amalgamative thinking skills based on systems thinking. In addition, the program is expected to improve creative thinking and problem-solving abilities by offering new ideas based on climate change science.

• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
• /
• v.42 no.4
• /
• pp.397-415
• /
• 2022

As the global warming problem becomes serious, the need for carbon cycle education in school is increasing. Adopting systems thinking ability is needed to understand the carbon cycle systematically. Furthermore, under the rapid change of environment, society, and economy, systems thinking ability is being emphasized as it can strengthen the competencies of students who will be leading the future society. The purposes of this study are as follows: first, is developing the systems thinking instrument for the carbon cycle and the rubric for analysis of systems thinking instrument. The second is analyzing the systems thinking ability of students using the developed instrument and rubric. In order to perform this study, previous studies related to the carbon cycle and systems thinking education were analyzed. Based on the analysis results, the systems thinking instrument for the carbon cycle and rubric were developed. The systems thinking ability was analyzed by implementing the developed instrument and rubric to 172 high school and university students. The results of this study are as follows: first, the systems thinking instrument for the carbon cycle was developed, and a rubric utilization guide was constructed. The instrument and rubric were modified through pilot study for middle school students producing expert opinion in relation to systems thinking and carbon cycle. Second, the systems thinking ability of students was analyzed. Consequently, students had systems thinking ability fully at a low level, such as identifying the variables related to the carbon cycle. However, it was shown that they lacked the systems thinking ability at a high level, such as time delay and feedback processes. The importance of the carbon cycle has been increasing since the global warming is the most pressing issue and significant environmental problem facing us today. Application of the systems thinking ability can contribute to understanding these complex problems and finding fundamental solutions.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.75-96
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the functional changes of local educational authority policy based on the systems thinking perspective using causal loop diagrams. In the past, the main function of the local educational authority was to manage and supervise schools. Through this policy, local educational authority would be transformed into a support agency. However, this policy did not achieve the goal, was to cause confusion and require improvement. This study shows structured causes of the problem based on systems thinking. These diagrams make it possible for educational policy makers to provide ideas, although they have some complicated environment. The findings indicate that based on systems thinking in this policy can help those who related to policy decision than existing diagnosis method.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.318-330
• /
• 2023

This study aimed to verify the validity of a measurement tool for Vietnamese high school students' systems thinking abilities. Two quantitative assessment tools, the Systems Thinking Measuring Instrument (Lee et al., 2013) and the Systems Thinking Scale (Dolansky et al., 2020), were used to measure students' systems thinking after translation into Vietnamese. As a result, it was revealed that Cronbach-α for each tool (i.e., STMI and STS) was .917 and .950, respectively, indicating high reliability for both. To validate the construct validity of the translated questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0, and confirmatory factor analysis was performed using AMOS 21.0. For concurrent validity, correlation analysis using structural equation modeling was performed to validate the translated questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that 10 items from the STMI and 12 items from the STS loaded on the intended factors and appropriate factor loading values were obtained. For confirmatory factor analysis, a structural equation model organized with 10 items from the STMI and 12 items from the STS was used. The result of this showed that the convergent validity values of the model were all appropriate, and the model fit indices were analyzed to be χ²/df of 1.892, CFI of .928, TLI of .919, SRMR of .047, and RMSEA of .063, indicating that the model consisting of the 22 items of the two questionnaires was appropriate. Analysis of the concurrent validity of the two tools indicated a high correlation coefficient (.903) and high correlation (.571-.846) among the subfactors. In conclusion, both the STMI and STS are valid quantitative measures of systems thinking, and it can be inferred that the systems thinking of Vietnamese high-school students can be quantitatively measured using the 22 items identified in our analysis. Using the tool validated in this study with other tools (e.g., qualitative assessment) can help accurately measure Vietnamese high school students' systems thinking abilities. Furthermore, these tools can be used to collect evidence and support effective education in ODA projects and volunteer programs.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.309-322
• /
• 2016

This paper presents an analytical framework of Conceptual Understandings of Earth Systems (CUES) that shows a relationship between disciplinary knowledge of Earth systems and the specific thinking skills required to understand that knowledge. This framework is developed through an extensive literature review of students' and teachers' understandings of earth systems concepts and systems thinking in earth science context. This study first presents the categories of disciplinary knowledge of Earth systems, Earth System Knowledge (ESK). This study then illustrates a relationship between categories of ESK and the ontological categories (Matter, Process, Systems) that has been used to study students' conceptual understandings of Earth systems. Finally, this study presents the CUES framework to show the relationship between disciplinary knowledge and thinking skills. The implications of using this framework for curriculum development, assessment, and teacher education and ESS research are discussed.

• Journal of Gifted/Talented Education
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.421-444
• /
• 2014

In STEAM education, contents that has been extracted from a variety of areas, so it can work closely and systematically. Therefore STEAM education requires systems thinking that can be grasped effectively these different disciplines. The purposes of this study are to develop a STEAM program based on systems thinking, and apply the program to the secondary science gifted student in order to investigate the educational effect. A model of the Program developed from previous research and theoretical contents of systems thinking and STEAM. A draft of the STEAM program was developed on the theme of "rocket". A total of 113 students was participated in this study. 100 seventh and 13 eighth graders were enrolled at seigy. A single group pre-post test paired t-test was conducted on them in systems thinking skills. Result of applying the program to the students as follows. The systems thinking ability was improved after the application of the program. 'Mental Model', 'Personal Skill', 'Team Learning', and 'System Analysis', 'Shared Vision' emerged for both improved significantly. In conclusion, the STEAM program based on system thinking improves students' systems thinking skills. This program of results can be helpful in cultivate human resources with the problem solving ability based on system thinking and STEAM literacy by used in public education curriculum.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.75-91
• /
• 2020

The purposes of this study are 1) to develop a pre-education program for teaching the basic concepts of systems thinking and STEAM program based on systems thinking and 2) to investigate the effects of the program on middle school students' systems thinking. The subjects were 4 seventh-graders and 4 ninth-graders in a middle school located in the province of Gyeongsangbuk-do. Data related to students' systems thinking was analyzed using the rubrics developed by Hung(2008). The results were reviewed by experts to verify the validity of the rubrics and the reliability of students' system thinking. In addition, the data analyzed with the rubrics, students' awareness of systems thinking, word associations, causal maps and interviews were systematically analyzed to investigate the effects of the program on students' systems thinking. The findings of this study were as follows: First, a pre-education program and teachers' guidebook for teaching and learning the concept of systems thinking and causal maps were developed. The pre-education program consisted of familiar TV entertainment program-Infinite Challenge (Muhandojeon)-with a theme of Global Warming. Second, a STEAM education program based on systems thinking which was composed of 5 steps: Analysis-Design-Build-Assessment-Systems thinking. The major theme of the program was an air extinguisher. The developed STEAM education program had positive effects on improving middle school students' systems thinking abilities such as understanding systems, relations within a system and system generalization. Therefore, it was concluded that the STEAM program could be instrumental for cultivating students' STEAM literacy with improved systems thinking.

• Korean System Dynamics Review
• /
• v.5 no.2
• /
• pp.5-31
• /
• 2004

systems thinking is a methodology to explain structural mechanisms for resolving problems in highly complex and dynamic society. This article applies systems thinking to understand recent social and political changes in South Korea. This article identifies the weakers' virtuous circle that played central role in reinforcing soical climate to support the weakers and the oppressed group. Also this article adopts the concept of tipping points and triggers to explain how the political and social changes are produced and widely accepted in a few days. In conclusion we propose that systems thinking is promising in understand social and political changes.