This is a really interesting topic – I have been wondering lately how much systems thinking is used and discussed throughout the US, after first learning about it when I moved to Silicon Valley. I think water and climate change are two of the most relevant examples of complex environmental systems that should be approached as such when designing solutions, even if those solutions are intended to focus only on one component of the system.

When I first read the blog post, I wondered if ThinkWater's efforts generally focus on applying systems thinking to understanding the physical water system (such as the water cycle), or if the focus is also on water as it relates to human behaviors and communities. I think the second category is especially important because it provides a way for lessons to be adapted to students’ everyday experiences and local communities. This provides opportunities to learn about changing behaviors (arguably a major goal of environmental education) and to consider the effects of environmental systems on their decisions and lives.

After looking through some of the example lesson plans available through the ThinkWater website that have been redesigned with systems thinking in mind, it seems like curriculum materials tend to cover both categories. There are units about the global water system, ocean geology, and personal water consumption. After reading these, I would be curious to know more about ways teachers have taught these lessons, and whether they have adapted them to be more locally focused (through field trips, introducing content about local challenges, etc.)

This is such a valuable and wonderful topic! Several months ago I had the opportunity to write my honors thesis on water education. For the thesis, a partner and I created a curriculum on water education, more specifically based around bottled water. It was interesting to read this article and look for similarities and differences between some of the ideas in the article and some of the components of my thesis/curriculum.

Systems thinking is a unique concept and it is one that I am familiar with. However, it wasn't something I really had in mind when designing my curriculum but looking back now I incorporated a great deal of systems thinking in my curriculum, without even knowing it. I believe incorporating systems thinking into environmental education will help students to both understand new topics but also to be inspired to make change. I believe more teachers should be made aware of what systems thinking is and how to incorporate it into their teaching.