The 2012 Winter Interim Teaching and Learning Workshop will focus on continuing the integration of systems thinking into the university curriculum. The workshop will focus on what systems thinking is and applying it to the teaching of water, food and energy. All UNL faculty, staff, postdocs and graduate students are welcome to attend.
Systems-thinking focuses on the system level and the dynamic interactions among the system’s components and functions. We work and live in an environment comprising systems that are trans-disciplinary in nature. Many important problems that our society faces today are complex and require a systems approach to develop solutions. Unfortunately, most current instruction fails to develop a systematic and integrated understanding of systems among our students.
Participants will define systems thinking in relation to agricultural and natural resources literacy (sustainable water, food, and energy) and will compose student learning outcomes (SLOs) related to these areas that we as a faculty can strive to teach towards in our curriculum.
Followup to the Winter Interim Workshop will occur later in the spring to continue the implementation plan for these SLOs. For more information: Dr. Lisa Karr-Lilienthal, Lkarr-lilienthal2@unl.edu, 402-472-6458; Dr. John Markwell, Jmarkwell2@unl.edu, 402-472-7912;
Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss, Theng-moss2@unl.edu,
402-472-8708