320.043 (17W) Systems Theory Approaches (B 4.3)

Wintersemester 2017/18

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
02.10.2017 12:30 - 16:30 D10.0.06 On Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Lecturer
Course title german Systemtheoretische Ansätze (B 4.3)
Type Seminar (continuous assessment course )
Hours per Week 3.0
ECTS credits 8.0
Registrations 8 (20 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
possible language(s) of the assessment English
Course begins on 02.10.2017
eLearning Go to Moodle course
Remarks (english)
  • Modules B1, B2, B3.2 need to be already positive before the start of the seminar (Curriculum, version 2012).
  • First day attendance is compulsory.
  • Minimum 80 % presence in class.

  • Interdisciplinary course.

  • Homework is required.

  • Good level of English is required (reading, writing, oral expression).

  •  All parts of the grading system need to be positive to pass.

Time and place

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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course, students will know:

- to identify system thinkers and different systems theoretical approaches

- to understand accumulation problems

- to design dynamic systems

- to understand and apply concepts like resilience, self-organization, hierarchy, non-linearity, non-existing boundaries, layers of limits, delays and bounded rationality

- to apply system theories to interdisciplinary problems

Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools

Lectures start with a description of the objectives of the day and introduction to the different topics. Different activities are planned for each day like: Writing; Presenting; Playing games; Computer modelling; Working in groups; Working individually; Writing on free choice topics; Film watching; Discussing; Quizzes; Blackboard explanations; Writing cards; Discussion of scientific papers.

It is planned that students select out their own topics to write a short essay on a system theory approach.

Course content

The aim of the course is to introduce students from different disciplines a new scientific method so-called system theory to enable them to argue and understand systems thinking to tackle local and global issues. This is a series of seminars to introduce current approaches of systems theory from social to natural scientific perspectives. You will explore how systems thinking provides new ways of studying the connections of these approaches to current interdisciplinary problems like for example climate change, loss of biodiversity, decrease of resources, etc. Current approaches from natural and social science systems theories and ample examples of systems thinking will be treated during the seminar.

Prior knowledge expected

Modules B1, B2, B3.2 need to be already positive before the start of the seminar (Curriculum, version 2012).

Good level of English is required (reading, writing, oral expression).

Literature

Thinking in systems a primer by Donella Meadows (2008) (in the library but it is recommended to buy it for future readings).

System thinkers by Magnus Ramage and Karen Shipp (2009) (in the library).

Systems science and modeling for ecological economics by Alexey Voinov (2008). The lecturer will provide some information from the book in class.

Academic writing by Felicitas Macgilshrist in Schoningh UTB (2014).

Other material like course data, scientific articles, videos, etc will be given in Moodle.

Examination information

Im Fall von online durchgeführten Prüfungen sind die Standards zu beachten, die die technischen Geräte der Studierenden erfüllen müssen, um an diesen Prüfungen teilnehmen zu können.

Examination methodology

Oral presentations and discussion in the Seminar, inclass activities and written scientific essay (Seminararbeit).

For all the students the latest date for submission of the scientific essay is 30.06.2018. As exception, to be graded before the end of February, the essay needs to be submitted latest the 30.01.2018.

Examination topic(s)

All the material given in class, suggested literature and material in Moodle.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

Active participation is part of the examination. For a successful grade, all parts of the examination must be positively assessed. If an examination part has been judged negatively, the course is negatively assessed (§ 73, para. 2 UG). It is not  allowed to repeat individual parts of the examination, which means that after the negative assessment of a part of the examination the entire course has to be repeated.

In German:

Die aktive Teilnahme ist ein Teil der Prüfungsleistungen. Für einenerfolgreichen Abschluss müssen alle Prüfungsteile positiv beurteilt sein. Wennein Prüfungsteil negativ beurteilt wurde, ist damit die LV negativ beurteilt (§73, Abs. 2 UG). Eine Wiederholung einzelner Prüfungsteile ist nicht zulässig -daraus folgt, dass nach der negativen Beurteilung eines Prüfungsteils diegesamte LV wiederholt werden muss.

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Bachelor's degree programme Geography (SKZ: 655, Version: 17W.1)
    • Subject: Integrative Geographie / Globaler Wandel (Compulsory subject)
      • B 4.3 Systemtheoretische Ansätze ( 0.0h SE / 7.0 ECTS)
        • 320.043 Systems Theory Approaches (B 4.3) (3.0h SE / 7.0 ECTS)
          Absolvierung im 5. Semester empfohlen
  • Bachelor's degree programme Geography (SKZ: 655, Version: 12W.2)
    • Subject: Integrative Geographie / Globaler Wandel (Compulsory subject)
      • B 4.3 Systemtheoretische Ansätze ( 0.0h SE / 8.0 ECTS)
        • 320.043 Systems Theory Approaches (B 4.3) (3.0h SE / 8.0 ECTS)

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

Wintersemester 2021/22
  • 320.043 SE Systemtheoretische Ansätze (B 6.1, B 4.3 alt) (3.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2020/21
  • 320.043 SE Systemtheoretische Ansätze (B 6.1, B 4.3 alt) (3.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2019/20
  • 320.043 SE Systemtheoretische Ansätze (B 4.3) (3.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Sommersemester 2019
  • 320.043 SE Systemtheoretische Ansätze - Studying social networks: theory, methods, and analysis (B 4.3) (3.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2018/19
  • 320.043 SE Systemtheoretische Ansätze (B 4.3) (3.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2016/17
  • 320.043 SE B 4.3 Systemtheoretische Ansätze (3.0h / 8.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2015/16
  • 320.043 SE B 4.3 Systemtheoretische Ansätze (3.0h / 8.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2014/15
  • 320.043 SE B 4.3 Systemtheoretische Ansätze (3.0h / 8.0ECTS)