Systems Thinking at the Get Go

Systems thinking has emerged in the last half-century as an underpinning of environmental and economic sciences. It puts into practice the notion that objects, forces, ideas, and especially people interact and are mutually influenced in somewhat predictable but nonetheless dynamic ways. The author has developed a systems-focused introductory curriculum for an architecture studio and has been involved in developing system-based approaches to practice. Associated methodologies have also been applied to several design-build projects and courses that brought together practice and teaching directly. This paper explains the methodologies developed in each of these arenas. The relationship between systems thinking in the educational context as compared to the professional or constructional context is articulated.