Lessons in Conservation: Volume 11

January 2021 - Systems Thinking Issue
Bright red radishes with green leaves comprise the cover page of this volume of LinC

Volume 11 features a suite of materials designed to foster systems thinking in students. These resources provide a valuable introduction to systems thinking, both as a way of seeing the world, and a specific set of tools, with illustrative examples. Through exercises, the materials in this issue also promote engagement with the complexity of biodiversity conservation problems, as students are asked to apply different systems thinking tools, both qualitative and quantitative, to understand the connections between our food systems and biodiversity. 

Lessons in Conservation is the official journal of the Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) and is currently available in electronic format. All materials in Lessons in Conservation are peer-reviewed and are reproduced from NCEP teaching modules. If you plan to use these materials in your teaching, you may wish to download easily modifiable Word versions of the materials found in Lessons in Conservation, along with additional teaching and learning modules, from the NCEP module collection.  

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The Value of Systems Thinking in a Rapidly Changing World

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Blue and white iceberg drawing showing what systems thinking means

Introduction to Systems and Systems Thinking

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Drawing of tree with brown trunk and green leaves

Modeling Links between Corn Production and Beef Production in the United States: A Systems Thinking Exercise using Mental Modeler

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Blue and orange arrows connecting boxes of descriptive words as an example of the mental modeler software

Systems Thinking Collection: Stakeholder Analysis Exercise

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Empty graph with x and y axis to use in stakeholder analysis exercise

Parasite Biodiversity

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Orange fish with a parasite attached to its side

Parasite Biodiversity: Fish Dissection and Assays for Parasites

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black and white drawing of a fish with body parts labeled

Parasite Biodiversity: Community Data Analysis

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Cream colored fish nestled in a coral reef