System dynamics is a method for studying the world around us. It deals with understanding how complex systems change over time. Internal feedback loops within the structure of the system influence the entire system behavior.
Education is an important area of application for system dynamics. Together with learner-centered learning, it forces the learner to become actively involved. The wide range of applications for system dynamics makes it an excellent tool for integrating the material of many subjects.
The System Dynamics in Education
Project (SDEP) is a group of students and staff in the Sloan
School of Management at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, working under the guidance of Professor Jay
W. Forrester, the founder of system dynamics.
What's New at the SDEP
Website
Check back often for the latest updates on additions and changes to
the SDEP website.
K-12 Email
Discussion Group
We are maintaining a K-12 system dynamics email list that discusses
the use of system dynamics and systems thinking in K-12 education.
Creative Learning Exchange
The Creative Learning Exchange was founded to serve as a networking
hub for K-12 educators interested in using system dynamics in schools.
Guided Study Program
Our Guided Study Program is over for the time being and we do not expect the course to be offered again in the near future. We send our sincere appreciation to those participants in the Program for the past three years. However, you may see and use the assignments and solutions to the 1998-1999 course in the Archives. You may also wish to consider a separate distance learning course in system dynamics taught here at MIT by Professor Jim Hines. For more information on Hine's course, click here.
System Dynamics Group
The System Dynamics Group at MIT is working on several research projects
about system dynamics.
System Dynamics Society
The System Dynamics Society encourages the development and use of system dynamics around the world.
Studying System Dynamics
A list of educational institutions which offer courses in System Dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Frequently Asked Questions list containing answers for a number of requests on our website or files originating from it.
Index of Papers Online
An annotated index of papers about system dynamics that are available
for downloading from this website.
Links to the Rest of
the World...
There are many other links which you can explore to learn more about
computer modeling and simulation.
Links to simulation software developers
Here you can find links to developers who make software for system dynamics modelling.