- To Know is to Wiggle
- Moving with Pond Life
- A Turtle’s Tail: Tilly Turtle and the Leach
- Waterbug Poem
- When Nature Seems ‘Cruel’
- Book Review: Over and Under the Pond
- Sorting Out Pond Stuff
- When Pond Problems Call for Systems Thinking
By W. George Scarlett
When there are pond problems, such as when fish are dying, it often takes systems thinking and high-level scientific investigation to figure out causes and what needs to be done. That’s an unreachable goal for many children. But with proper support, adolescents can become scientists finding cause in the combination of variables observed and measured while studying the systems of a virtual pond. One such support comes from the ecoLearn research lab at Harvard (see https://ecolearn.gse.harvard.edu/ ), a support explained in the accompanying film showing how advanced immersive technology can put adolescents right there in and around a (virtual) pond.
Thank you for sharing this excellent educational resource. I’m thrilled to be able to point readers of my upcoming NOISY PUDDLE book (Owlkids, spring 2024) to this resource.
Your writing style is engaging, and the information is presented clearly. Thanks for this informative piece!
I am deeply impressed by your insightful article on applying systems thinking to pond problems. The relevance of this topic cannot be overstated, especially in today’s context where environmental issues demand comprehensive and integrative approaches.
I hope you continue to explore and write about such important topics. I look forward to reading more of your work and gaining further insights into systems thinking and environmental management.