June 1998
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998
To: k-12sd-@sysdyn.mit.edu
From: "Jay W. Forrester" <jforestr@MIT.EDU> (by way of k-12sd)
Subject: Guided Study Program in System Dynamics
The MIT Guided Study Program in System Dynamics is receiving applications
from participants for its second year. The Program will begin in early
September 1998 and run until June 1999. Participants must possess a
computer and have access to the Internet, and be willing to devote at least
fifteen hours per week to the Program. To cover the costs, each participant
will be expected to pay US$5,000 in advance. Applications will be taken in
the order of submission, excepting our right to decide that the Program may
not be appropriate for some applicants. The Program will also admit a few
full-time K-12 teachers and school administrators for a much smaller fee of
$500.
The Guided Study Program, GSP, is a distance learning program conducted by
e-mail for people without a basic training in the fundamentals of system
dynamics. The focus is on understanding the key principles of system
dynamics and using them in computer simulations.
The Program is organized as a guided study of the "Road Maps" series and
some of the "classics" in system dynamics literature. Weekly (and
occasionally biweekly) assignments include readings from papers in Road
Maps, exercises based on those papers, additional questions on the topics
of study, readings from the classic system dynamics literature, and
modeling exercises. (Road Maps is a series of chapters on system dynamics
and can be found on the web server at sysdyn.mit.edu)
Progress of participants is monitored by a team composed of MIT
undergraduates with experience working for the System Dynamics in Education
Project. Members of the team, the GSP tutors, are authors of many of the
papers included in Road Maps. Each week the team reports back to the System
Dynamics in Education Project group meeting with Prof. Forrester to relate
progress of participants and discuss questions that arise.
The Program is customized to interests and aptitudes of participants.
Length and difficulty of assignments varies depending on performance of
participants on previous assignments. Participants can reach tutors
individually through e-mail and get feedback on questions and concerns.
The first year of the Guided Study Program ends in July 1998. Tutors and
participants all found the Program to be a rewarding and educational
experience. The System Dynamics in Education Project will be holding a
similar Guided Study Program for the 1998-1999 school year. Material
covered will be similar to the first year, but experience gained this past
year will serve to improve next year's Program.
Anyone who is interested in participating in the 1998-1999 System Dynamics
in Education Project Guided Study Program should contact us at
<gsp-info@sysdyn.mit.edu> before August 1st. Please include some personal
background and describe your present work (about one page).
For additional information about the Guided Study Program, please contact
us at <gsp-info@sysdyn.mit.edu> or refer to our home page
http://sysdyn.mit.edu/DistanceLearning/ .
The home page features:
o A paper about the GSP for the System Dynamics Society Quebec City
Conference in July 1998
o Quotes from past participants in the GSP
o A sample assignment
o A sample solution
---------------------------------------------------------
Jay W. Forrester
Professor of Management, Emeritus
and Senior Lecturer, Sloan School
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Room E60-389
Cambridge, MA 02139
tel: 617-253-1571
fax: 617-258-9405
Home office:
tel: 978-369-9372
fax: 978-369-9077
------------------------------------------------------------
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