Pets, Politics and Pandemics from Coursera

This course is designed to be a fun and accessible introduction to the topic of systems theory. Systems theory describes a number of fundamental concepts that undergird a broad array of phenomena across many different social, political and natural arenas. It is from this broad applicability that the course derives its title: Pets (social), politics (political and economic) and Pandemics (natural).

Despite being, hopefully, fun, the course has a serious intent as it aims to teach enough systems theoretical methods so that after taking the course the student can apply it to their own life to gain new insights into things they may have been studying already for a while. The material within this course can be applied across broad contexts, such as making difficult choices and communicating your ideas effectively to peers. After all, there are indeed strategies for navigating situations in life with the help of lessons from science.

In the course, with the help of Professor Billinge's dogs, we will grapple with social justice, climate change, propaganda and disinformation, the origin of the unidirectionality of time and watch some relaxing views of birds flying around with nice music playing.

What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started and Course Overview

Welcome to Pets, Politics, and Pandemics! During this week, Professor Simon Billinge provides an overview of the course. You will also view guidelines to support your learning journey towards thinking systematically to navigate everyday life situations.

Life’s Problems, What Is a System, and Who Cares Anyway?

Most of life’s challenges consist of interactions between an individual and different groups, where the group can range from one individual through all of mankind, and indeed non-human groups. This module helps you recognize that essentially all of life’s challenges consist of interactions between an object and different groups of objects that we call a system, where the object can be a person or a thing and the system can range from one object or individual to many objects and groups of individuals throughout all of mankind. During this week's lecture series, we will explore the concept of systems behavior as it relates to such interactions, and its complexities as we apply “force” in an attempt to achieve desired outcomes.

Understanding Scientific Systems

System susceptibility means that the system response is never, in general, completely determined by the applied force. In this sense, systems “have a mind of their own” and it is not possible to control system responses completely. During this week’s lecture series, we will investigate how to work towards getting a desired outcome by changing the applied force, as well as the system’s susceptibility.

Applying your Knowledge to Real World Situations

We have focused on understanding concepts related to the SRFSuP model. Now, it is time to apply what we have learned to real-world situations. During this week’s lecture, we will learn how to differentiate between education and propaganda, the concept of overwhelming force, and how to apply SRFSuP analysis to politicians.

Now It’s Your Turn

Let’s apply the SRFSuP model to everyday life challenges and situations! During this week, we will be able to demonstrate our understanding of navigating life with our secret scientific pills using SRFSuP analyses.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops critical thinking skills for understanding social, political, and natural phenomena

Provides a diverse and engaging learning experience through the use of real-world examples and multimedia

Empowers learners to apply systems theory to their own lives and make informed decisions

Suitable for learners with diverse backgrounds and interests in social sciences, politics, and natural science

Introduces fundamental concepts of systems theory, providing a foundation for further study

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Pets, Politics and Pandemics with these activities:

Review: Systems Theory

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Learn the fundamentals of systems theory. This will help you grapple more effectively with the social, political, and natural systems discussed in this course.

View Thinking in Systems: International Bestseller on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes on the major concepts.
Summarize the main ideas in your own words.

Systems Thinking Practice Exercises

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Refine your systems thinking skills through regular practice. This will build your confidence and improve your ability to apply the concepts to various situations.

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Solve systems thinking practice exercises.
Check your answers and learn from your mistakes.
Repeat the process to improve your skills.

Introduction to Systems Thinking

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Identify the key characteristics and applications of systems thinking. This will solidify concepts covered in the course.

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Watch the video tutorials.
Complete the practice exercises.
Discuss your findings with a classmate or colleague.

Five other activities

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Systems Thinking Study Group

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Engage with your peers to discuss and apply the concepts of systems theory. This will provide you with multiple perspectives and a deeper understanding.

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Form a study group.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Work together on practice exercises and projects.

Systems Thinking Workshop

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Dive deeper into systems thinking through interactive exercises and discussions. This will strengthen your knowledge and problem-solving skills.

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Attend a Systems Thinking workshop.
Participate in the activities and discussions.
Apply what you learn to your studies.

Contribute to Open Source Systems Thinking Projects

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Immerse yourself in the practical applications of systems thinking. This will keep you up-to-date with cutting-edge methods and technologies.

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Identify open source systems thinking projects that interest you.
Join the project community.
Contribute to the project by reporting bugs, writing documentation, or contributing code.

Systems Thinking in Action

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Demonstrate your understanding of systems theory through a creative lens. This will encourage critical thinking and help you develop a deeper understanding.

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Choose a real-world issue or problem.
Apply the principles of systems thinking to analyze the issue.
Develop a creative solution or intervention.
Present your work to the class or a wider audience.

Systems Thinking Project

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Apply systems thinking to a real-world problem. This will provide you with hands-on experience and a deeper understanding.

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Identify a problem or challenge that you want to address.
Develop a research question that will guide your project.
Conduct research and gather data.
Analyze your data and develop a solution.
Present your findings and solution to a wider audience.

Career center

Learners who complete Pets, Politics and Pandemics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Public Policy Analyst

This course may be useful in helping Public Policy Analysts to understand how systems interact and affect public policy. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to develop and implement more effective and efficient public policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Market Researcher

This course may be useful in helping Market Researchers to understand how systems interact and affect consumer behavior. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to design and implement more effective and efficient market research studies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

Data Scientist

This course may be useful in helping Data Scientists to understand how systems interact and affect data analysis. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to develop and implement more effective and efficient data-driven solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Management Consultant

This course may be useful in helping Management Consultants to understand how systems interact and affect organizational performance. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to identify and solve problems more effectively and efficiently.

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Operations Research Analyst

This course may be useful in helping Operations Research Analysts to understand how systems interact and affect organizational performance. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to develop and implement more effective and efficient solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Software Engineer

This course may be useful in helping Software Engineers to understand how systems interact and affect software development. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to design and implement more effective and efficient software systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Analyst

This course may be useful in helping Systems Analysts to understand how systems interact and affect business outcomes. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to identify and solve problems more effectively and efficiently.

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Professor

This course may be useful in helping Professors to develop more effective teaching methods and curriculum. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to design and implement more effective and engaging learning experiences.

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Systems Engineer

This course may be useful in helping Systems Engineers to understand how systems interact and affect complex engineering projects. The focus on systems thinking and understanding scientific systems will help these professionals to design and implement more effective and efficient systems.

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Political Scientist

This course may be useful in helping Political Scientists to understand how systems interact and affect political outcomes. The focus on propaganda and disinformation will help these professionals to more effectively communicate their research and findings to the public.

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Social Policy Researcher

Social Policy Researchers may benefit from the course's methods to investigate the impact of social policies on different populations. The focus on systems thinking and social justice may help them develop more effective and equitable policies.

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Geographer

This course may be useful for Geographers to understand systems of land use and resource allocation. The learning objective of applying the knowledge to real-world situations may help these professionals make better decisions and conduct more effective research.

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Environmental Scientist

Understanding the principles taught in this course may help Environmental Scientists develop better models for predicting environmental phenomena, and designing solutions to environmental problems. They may also use methods discussed in this course to analyze data from climate simulations.

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Health Information Manager

This course may be useful in helping Health Information Managers to understand how data and systems can be applied to health care to improve patient outcomes. The discussion of social justice and propaganda will help these professionals navigate and understand the complexities of health care policies and regulations.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts may use methods taught in this course to understand and segment user bases for advertising and product marketing campaigns. Predictive analytics and behavioral models can help these professionals understand how to tailor campaigns to specific audience needs. This course may be useful in helping to build foundational knowledge for a career as a Data Analyst.

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