Advice for instructors

The Thinking Complexity online course can be used as part of a any course that requires students to reflect on complex problems.

For example, the course is currently used to prepare students to work on complex problems of sustainability. It is also the cornerstone of a stand-alone project called SDG Thinking. The SDG Thinking project involves students studying a topical issue within the perimeter of one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The project involves six steps:

1. Take the online course Thinking Complexity to learn systems thinking skills
2. Identify an issue within the scope of one of the SDG from the online news and write a problem statement to describe how behavior has evolved over time.
3. Write two or three paragraphs to tell the story of the problem and create a richer picture of the issue and stakeholders involved.
4. Draw a systems model that explains the dynamics of the behavior under study.
5. Use the model to identify the system’s leverage points and suggest actions to minimize or eliminate the undesirable behaviour.
6. Design a coherent, multi-stakeholder strategy to address and impact the issue.

More information, resources and illustrations can be found on the dedicated SDG Thinking website.