My feeling/perception is that *most* (even the vast majority of) undergraduate engineering degree programs worldwide:
(a) Don't or barely include systems thinking in the learning objectives of their course syllabi.
(b) Are (still) heavily invested in passive instructional methods that tend not to foster students’ systems thinking. Meaning, lectures and recitations are the majority and the norm over active learning methods which involve application, collaboration, discussion, and reflection by students.
(c) Don’t provide instructors with the pedagogical training required to foster and assess students’ systems thinking.
(d) Don’t assess students’ systems thinking in any documented and consistent way. I’m not even getting into whether the assessment is valid, reliable, and cost-effective.
All the above are especially absent in the earlier years of the degree program.
Question 1: What are your thoughts about my perception of the landscape? Does it match what you know or feel?
Question 2: Is anyone aware of studies that survey systems thinking inclusion in undergraduate engineering curricula (worldwide, US, or in any other country)?
Looking forward to your comments, facts, and opinions on these questions or on anything else that comes to mind!
p.s. For a previous discussion on whether systems thinking should even be taught in first-year education, see here: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Should_we_teach_systems_thinking_to_first-year_engineering_students_or_should_we_wait_until_theyve_acquired_disciplinary_knowledge_and_skills
From my extended experience in architecture, There’s a debate about how well architecture programs teach systems thinking. Here's a breakdown of some arguments:
-Potential shortcomings: Limited focus: Coursework might prioritize technical skills and design principles without explicitly addressing systems thinking Teaching methods: Traditional lectures may not encourage students to analyze interconnectedness and see the "big picture" Assessment methods: Programs might not have established ways to evaluate a student's ability to think in systems
-Possible reasons for shortcomings: Balancing curriculum: Architecture programs need to cover a broad range of subjects, and incorporating systems thinking effectively might require curricular adjustments. Instructor training: Not all instructors may have training in how to foster and assess systems thinking in students.
It's a very interesting and rich topic - Good luck with the discussion. By the end of 2024, you will be having material for 3 new books...
While undergraduate engineering programs incorporate courses that address systems thinking, the depth and practical application vary considerably. Some programs offer courses dedicated to systems thinking, while others integrate it into different subjects. The effectiveness of teaching systems thinking depends on the experience of the teachers, the methodology used and the relevance of the examples used.
In general, there is a need to strengthen the teaching of systems thinking in engineering degrees so that future professionals can approach complex problems comprehensively and consider the interrelationships between the different components of a system.
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