Learning in and about Simple Dynamic Systems

System dynamics-based interactive learning environments (ILEs) have been developed to address shortcomings in policy design and decision making with regard to complex systems. A primary purpose of these ILEs is to identify effective learning strategies for these domains. Typically, these ILEs are themselves complex, but little is understood about how we come to understand complex, dynamic domains. It is, therefore, difficult to identify causes for improved learning. We begin with the design of learning support for simpler dynamic system and present an instructional design strategy based on principles of graduated complexity and problem-based learning. Our methodology addresses the need for simple, understandable representations of complex realities. To establish that this design methodology is effective, it is necessary to conduct learning studies across a number of dimensions of complexity with variations in the design of the associated learning environments. We demonstrate examples of the design methodology and present preliminary results