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Small System Dynamics Models for BIG Issues:
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Small System Dynamics Models for BIG Issues:
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This Open Online Course (OOC) is free and open to anyone who wants to acquire basic and intermediate System Dynamics (SD) skills. It takes place online from 13-17 January, i.e. one week before the retake exams at Delft University of Technology to help my students prepare for their SD101 retake exam (SPM2313 and EPA1322). Anyone else interested in taking my SD exam can take it in July 2014 during the International System Dynamics Conference.
This course is a hands-on case-based modeling course: you will have to work in order to learn from feedback... If you'd rather just read a book, then there are better alternatives available. During the OOC, we will follow the learning path of my e-book at a pace of 1 week per day. I will inform you about the exercises/cases I will focus on. My preferred generic learning path. For those who follow the generic learning path: my preferred exercises/cases when choices need to be made include 2.4 or 2.13; 6.9; 14.5; 14.15 or 14.16; 18.5 or 18.6; 18.7 or 18.9; 18.12 and 18.13. I will also make videos to answer questions received via e-mail, make videos to explain and illustrate, and make additional materials available. In terms of new videos, I will spend most of my time adding videos to show you how to use models: videos showing how to make models are already available.
You do not need to spend 5 full days if you do not need it or if you do not have so much time. This OOC will nevertheless take a minimum of a few hours per day. But all materials will remain available online, so you may also do half of the exercises now and practice more at a later point in time. TUDelft students who studied and worked for the exam, and just need to refresh their modeling skills before the retake can participate selectively, e.g. on days 4-5. Note however that I will not address questions related to day 1 on day 5. That is, those who start too late just have to live with the consequences...
Download the e-book here. (TUDelft students can also download it from Blackboard). Read the Preface. Have a look at the Learning Path (p12-15): we will follow this generic learning path.
Download and install SD software: any SD software is good. I will use Vensim, but that does not mean you need to use Vensim too. But if you want to use Vensim, then you can download Vensim PLE for free from http://vensim.com/free-download/ . TUDelft students can download and install Vensim PRO from http://www.vensim.com/tudelft.html using their TUDelft e-mail address. Note that you do not need the PRO version for this introductory course.
On the first day, we'll start with an introduction to System Dynamics. We will make qualitative as well as very simple quantitative SD models.
Maximum effort: week 1 of the learning path
Minimum effort: chapter 1 + 4 mandatory qualitative exercises, chapter 5 + 3 mandatory quantitative exercise
Exercises of choice I will most likely focus on: (suggestions are welcome) + 6.8, 6.9, 6.11
Link to start of the day video
Link to Q&A page day 1: If you have questions, please send them to smallSDmodels@gmail.com with subject QUESTION OOC. I'll answer them and put them on a Q&A page.
Additional information will be posted here on 13 January if necessary:
Recorded so far: introduction day 1 video recorded; illustration ex2.1 rerecorded; introduction quantitative modeling rerecorded
The second day is dedicated to technical model formulation exercises.
Maximum effort: week 2 of the learning path
Minimum effort: 10.1-10.6 ; 10.8-10.9
Exercises of choice I will most likely focus on: (suggestions are welcome) + 10.12, 10.13
Link to start of the day videoLink to Q&A page day 2: If you have questions, please send them to smallSDmodels@gmail.com with subject QUESTION OOC. I'll answer them and put them on a Q&A page.
Additional information will be posted here on 14 January if necessary.
The third day builds on days 1&2. From here on, we will be working on (near-)real cases. On the third day, these cases are still relatively easy. And model building and testing are focused on.
Maximum effort: week 3 of the learning path
Minimum effort: 1 case from 14.1-14.16
Exercises of choice I will most likely focus on: (suggestions are welcome) + 14.5, 14.6, 14.15, 14.16, 14.17
Link to start of the day videoLink to Q&A page day 3: If you have questions, please send them to smallSDmodels@gmail.com with subject QUESTION OOC. I'll answer them and put them on a Q&A page.
Additional information will be posted here on 15 January if necessary.
On the fourth day, we will build more cases, while focusing on policy analysis, policy design and policy testing.
Maximum effort: week 4 of the learning path
Minimum effort: 1 case from 18.2-18.10
Exercises of choice I will most likely focus on: (suggestions are welcome)
Link to start of the day videoEnd of the day: congratulations if you made at least two cases and solved all related questions! Note that it's all about developing useful models and then using them for a purpose. For most of you: passing the exam. So make sure you practice answering the questions. My videos are a bit delayed, you'll see me tomorrow.
Link to Q&A page day 4: If you have questions, please send them to smallSDmodels@gmail.com with subject QUESTION OOC. I'll answer them and put them on a Q&A page.
Additional information will be posted here on 16 January if necessary.
On the fifth day, we will build even more cases, while focusing on model use and communication.
Maximum effort: week 5 of the learning path
Minimum effort: 1 case from 18.11-18.22
Exercises of choice I will most likely focus on: (suggestions are welcome)
This is the last day: make as many cases from chapters 18 and 14!End of the day: well done!!!!
Link to Q&A page day 5: If you have questions, please send them to smallSDmodels@gmail.com with subject QUESTION OOC. I'll answer them and put them on a Q&A page.
Additional information will be posted here on 17 January if necessary.
10-15 MCQs + A new modeling case with about 10 MCQs
