320.212 (21W) Fundamentals of systems-theoretical approaches (M 1.2)

Wintersemester 2021/22

Registration deadline has expired.

First course session
07.10.2021 12:30 - 14:00 Online-Termin Off Campus
... no further dates known

Overview

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it may be necessary to make changes to courses and examinations at short notice (e.g. cancellation of attendance-based courses and switching to online examinations).

For further information regarding teaching on campus, please visit: https://www.aau.at/en/corona.
Lecturer
Course title german Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (M 1.2)
Type Proseminar (continuous assessment course )
Course model Attendance-based course
Hours per Week 2.0
ECTS credits 7.0
Registrations 2 (20 max.)
Organisational unit
Language of instruction English
Course begins on 07.10.2021
eLearning Go to Moodle course
Remarks (english)

Good level of English is needed for this course.  Depending of the COVID situation, this course might turn into an online course.

Seniorstudium Liberale Yes

Time and place

Please note that the currently displayed dates may be subject to change due to COVID-19 measures.
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Course Information

Intended learning outcomes

After successful completion of the course, students will know:

- to apply system theory concepts like resilience, self-organization, hierarchy, non-linearity, non-existing boundaries, layers of limits, delays and bounded rationality of human-ecological systems in a changing world,

- to understand accumulation problems on ecological economics,

- to design dynamic systems and apply a system dynamic modelling approach for social and physical systems.

Teaching methodology

Lectures start with a description of the objectives of the day and introduction to the different topics. Different activities with the students are planned for each day: Writing; Presenting; Playing games; Computer modelling; Working in groups and  individually; Film watching; Discussions


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 and to model simple dynamic human-ecological systems.

Prior knowledge expected

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

Literature

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

"Resilience thinking. Sustaining ecosystems and people in a changing world" by Walker and Salt (2006). This book is needed for the oral presentation.

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

To write the seminar work, please, read Academic writing by Felicitas Macgilshrist in Schoningh UTB (2014).

Other material like 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

Participation during the activities in class, oral presentation, individual oral exam and seminar work.

Examination topic(s)

Power point presentations: : "Resilience thinking" (Book).

Oral exam: the content of the book "Thinking in systems" and the examples given in class using STELLA.

Seminar work: content will be agreed in class.

Assessment criteria / Standards of assessment for examinations

Active participation in class (5%), 

oral presentation (25%),

oral exam (30%), 

seminar work (40%),

All the examination parts need to be positive. 

Grading scheme

Grade / Grade grading scheme

Position in the curriculum

  • Master's degree programme Geography and Regional Research (SKZ: 855, Version: 13W.1)
    • Subject: Grundlagen und Methoden Geographischer Systemwissenschaften (Compulsory subject)
      • Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze ( 0.0h PS / 7.0 ECTS)
        • 320.212 Fundamentals of systems-theoretical approaches (M 1.2) (2.0h PS / 7.0 ECTS)

Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts

Wintersemester 2020/21
  • 320.212 PS Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (M 1.2) (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2019/20
  • 320.212 PS Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (M 1.2) (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2018/19
  • 320.212 PS Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (M 1.2) (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2016/17
  • 320.212 PS M 1.2 Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2015/16
  • 320.212 PS M 1.2 Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (M 3.1 und M 3.2 alt) (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2014/15
  • 320.212 PS M 1.2 Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)
Wintersemester 2013/14
  • 320.212 PS M 1.2 Grundlagen systemtheoretischer Ansätze (2.0h / 7.0ECTS)