Teaching Systems Thinking for 3-6 Students

Teaching Systems Thinking for 3-6 Students: The Practice of Shi-Fu Education Foundation in Taiwan

Chiang-Kuo Tu Assistant Professor Department of Business Administration, Da-Yeh University, Taiwan Consultant of Shi-Fu Education Foundation in Taiwan Email: e6218923@ms13.hinet.net

Abstract

The Shi-Fu Education Foundation in Taiwan has strived for teaching Systems Thinking (ST) for 3-6 students since 1997. We have always tried to collect new information and find right direction from the ST&DM educator of USA. And we have also developed and practiced some ST curriculums in elementary school. From 2003 to 2009, we have focused our action on developing new ST curriculums for 3-6 students, teaching ST curriculums in elementary school, leading new teachers to learn and teach ST, and communicating with parents about the importance of 3-6 students learning ST. In this paper, we focused on presenting our “2009 ST Summer Camp for 3-6 Students”. The theme of 2009 ST Summer Camp was “Making Friends with the Whole World”. Totally, we have invited more than 300 students to attend our classes and almost 90 parents to listen to our speech about ST education for 3-6 students. In conclusion, we have found some insightful meaning of teaching ST for 3-6 students. We have led 3-6 students to explore an extensive system to see the interrelationship between myself and the whole world. We have found that the theme-focused curriculum design might deepen students learning ST. We have found that there were some basic blocks of conducting classroom to develop students’ ST skills and values. We have found that teachers needed not only instructing ability but also the ability of leading thinking process and telling stories touchingly. We have realized that improving ST skills needed both critical thinking and soft feeling (empathy).

Our Vision of Teaching Systems Thinking for 3-6 Students

The vision of Shi-Fu Education Foundation in Taiwan is based on our interpretation of articles and...