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Free course
Understanding the environment: Thinking styles and models
Free statement of participation on completion
There is increasing recognition that the reductionist mindset that is currently dominating society, rooted in unlimited economic growth unperceptive to its social and environmental impact, cannot resolve the converging environmental, social and economic crises we now face. The primary aim of this free course, Understanding the environment: Thinking styles and models, is to encourage the shift away from reductionist and human centred thinking towards a holistic and ecological worldview.
This is the first course in the 'Understanding the environment' series. For more information, see the introductory session here339.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- identify the need to recognise and integrate a blend of cognitive styles and multiple intelligences as the basis for effective systems practice and thinking
- recognise that the way we engage with the world is through partial models of reality, and that these models are limited by different cognitive styles and 'traps'.
First Published: 10/08/2012
Updated: 14/02/2020
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Love this course, I've been learning system thinking and mapping several systems using the qualitative side of the technique for 2 years. I still learned a lot from the readings provided and the thinking process/ sharing from the professor. Thank you so much for creating this free course. Recommended to all the students who want to know more about system thinking and how to use this lens to view our relationship with the environment.