System Dynamics Group Modeling: An Educational Perspective

An application of the SD group model-building methodology in a higher post-graduate course is presented with the purpose of illustrating its value for improving the learning process. The measurements from this experience are collected via a survey and interviews and results are presented to determine if the SD group model-building experience enables transformational, instructive and communicative learning. The experience provides a testament for some important characteristics of the SD group model methodology, namely: its ability to promote changes in perspectives of the course participants via reflection, to substantiate participants’ growth in understanding the key principles of investigation and to facilitate interaction between participants.