🟢 Systems Thinking

🔷 Why Systems Thinking?

The iceberg model

Systems thinking is important because it helps us understand the underlying complexity of a problem or situation by looking beyond the visible or superficial elements, like how an iceberg has a hidden, larger portion underwater that impacts the visible tip. By identifying and analyzing the interconnected parts of a system, we can better grasp the root causes of issues and create more effective solutions.

🔷 UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals

UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals

 

1.   No Poverty

            End poverty in all forms everywhere.

 

2.   Zero Hunger

            End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition,

            and promote sustainable agriculture.

 

3.   Good Health and Well-being

            Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

 

4.   Quality Education

            Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong

            learning opportunities for all.

 

5.   Gender Equality

            Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

 

6.   Clean Water and Sanitation

            Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and

            sanitation for all.

 

7.   Affordable and Clean Energy

            Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern

            energy for all.

 

8.   Decent Work and Economic Growth

            Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth,

            full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

 

9.   Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

            Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable

            industrialization, and foster innovation.

 

10.  Reduced Inequalities

             Reduce inequality within and among countries.

 

11.  Sustainable Cities and Communities

             Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe,

             resilient and sustainable.

 

12.  Responsible Consumption and Production

              Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

 

13.  Climate Action

              Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

 

14.  Life Below Water

             Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine

             resources for sustainable development.

 

15.  Life on Land

             Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial

             ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,

             and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.

 

16.  Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

             Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access

             to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive

             institutions at all levels.

 

17.  Partnerships for the Goals

             Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize

             the global partnership for sustainable development.

 

👉 What are complex problems?

 

🔷 Characteristics of a complex problem

 

When thinking about the complexity of a problem, consider the following attributes:

1.    Definability

·       Complicated problems are easy to define, complex problems are not

·       Existence of unknown unknowns

2.    Reducibility

·       Complicated problems can be broken down into parts, but complex problems cannot

3.    Predictability

·       The outcome of a complicated problem can be predicted, but not in the case with complex problems

4.    Solvability

·       Complicated problems can by solved, complex problems can only be addressed

·       Solvability of complex problems is influenced by external factors

 

👉 How to solve problems?

 

How we think determines how we see the world around us. It also determines our course of action. There are two different ways of thinking, linear and non-linear

 

▪️ Linear thinking

Linear thinking involves analyzing information step by step and using a cause-and-effect approach to arrive at a conclusion. We can get solve a mathematical problem as a example of linear thinking.

▪️ Non-linear thinking

Non-linear thinking involves making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, leading to creative and innovative solutions. Creative inventions using different machines can be taken as an example of non-linear thinking.

🟢 Smart Thinking

    When someone asks you to "think about the issues", "analyse in more depth", "use reasoning", "be rational", "be logical", "think critically", "have a good argument", and "explain in detail", they are essentially asking you to engage in a process of smart thinking. But how do you do that?

👉 Logic and Argument

    The logic is used to assess an argument. A claim meant to prove a point is referred to as an argument. There need to be evidence to support that claim. Premises and conclusion are the two parts of an argument that can be distinguished. The conclusion is the claim that needs to be supported by evidence, while the premises provide that evidence.

 

 

👉 Identifying Claims and Arguments

    Identification of claims and arguments is a critical thinking skill that is necessary in today's world of information. Many people mistakenly believe that stating one's opinions on a subject constitutes providing an argument. A claim presents a viewpoint or assumption, whereas an argument offers evidence to back up that viewpoint. Analyzing the data that supports or contradicts a claim is essential before accepting or rejecting it.

👉 Difference between Arguments and Explanations

 

 

 

   VS

 

    An argument gives reasons for believing that something is true or probably true, while an explanation tells why or how something is the case. Arguments aim to prove a claim's truth, while explanations aim to provide a deeper understanding of a phenomenon. Although claims and explanations differ, explanations could be integral parts of arguments. Understanding the difference between arguments and explanations helps in sound reasoning and analysis of claims.

👉 There are indicator words that can identify a premise or a conclusion

Premise indicators:

            because, as, since, given that, due to, for the reasoning that

Conclusion indicators:

            therefore, so, thus, hence, which implies that, as a result, which means that

• If there are indicators in an argument it is called explicit inference while if there are only a series of premise and a conclusion without indicators those are called implicit inference. 

👉 What do we do with reasoning?

Examples from lecture notes:

•    Arguing:

     'You should not believe what you see on television because ... '

 
•    Explaining:

     'Digital television has been introduced because ... '

 
•    Making decisions:

     ‘I think we should buy a digital television receiver because... '

 
•    Predicting the future:

     'I expect digital television to make pay television better because ... '

 
•    Exploring issues:

     'How will digital television link to the Internet?’

 
•    Finding answers:

     'Why did the government decide on a higher-quality digital television standard?'

 
•    Justifying actions:

     'When first introduced,

      I thought subscribing to pay television was not a good idea because... '

--------------------------------------------------------

👥 Group Work

👉 Discuss the benefits and limitations of the concept,

       “Nearest School is the Best School”

    The 7 members of our group came from different parts of Sri Lanka, and most of them had gone to popular schools in Sri Lanka.

When discussing this topic, there were different children of different colors in our group, so various suggestions were made. There, opinions were expressed that this concept is good and that this concept is not practical. Some argued that this concept is good because of low travel costs, less travel time and affordable student capacity, while others, including me, argued that this concept is impractical due to popular schools' infrastructure, teaching methods, etc. Our group also came up with difficult to implement proposals such as closing all the schools in Sri Lanka and creating a limited number of schools for each district.

👉 Learnings from the activity:

    Finally, our group concluded the discussion by deciding that “Nearest School is the Best School” is a good concept, but the government as well as the public should work hard to implement this concept in all provincial schools in Sri Lanka.