Deepen your systems mindset as you learn key systems mapping techniques, explore digital tools, and practice uncovering patterns, relationships, and leverage points within complex systems.
Understand complex relationships through systems mapping
Systems thinking helps you see the whole picture, and systems mapping turns that insight into action. In this course, you’ll learn three core mapping methods, how to create quick and complex analog maps, and how to identify relationships and intervention points within a system. You’ll also explore digital tools and build the skills to communicate complex dynamics clearly and confidently.
Start developing a systems mindset by learning the core principles of systems thinking and how they shape creative problem-solving
Learn 3 foundational analog systems mapping techniques (cluster/”messy” maps, causal loop diagrams, interconnected circles map) and understand when and why to use each one
Explore digital systems mapping tools you can integrate into your future projects for deeper analysis and clearer communication
Practice applying systems mapping through guided activities that help you see relationships, identify leverage points, and synthesize insights
Begin to explore systems dynamics and archetypes to better recognize common patterns and behaviors within complex systems
Curriculum
What’s inside this course
Have you ever thought about how you think? Albert Einstein famously said, “We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.”
Systems thinking is about understanding dynamics so that more informed considerations can be made, consequences can be explained and positive interventions can be designed.
Applying systems thinking to problem-solving allows for a much deeper level of understanding than a normal research or exploration process can.
A system map is a visual representation of a system’s relationships within a given boundary or scope.
Systems mapping is a tool for visualizing and thinking through the complex interconnected elements that exist within a system. It’s not a mind map and it’s not about the individual parts. It’s a way of exploring and finding the connections that exist between things. There are paper-based mapping techniques, as well as online technical tools.
There are two main types of feedbacks that can be identified in systems dynamics: reinforcing, where elements within a system reinforce and this exponentially grows the system (think population), and balancing, where elements within the system balance each other out (think predator/prey in nature).
Systems dynamics are the activities that occur in a system, the behaviors and feedback loops that maintain or change the system. Understanding feedback loops and systems dynamics is about gaining perspective of causality: how one thing results in another thing in a dynamic and constantly evolving system (all systems are dynamic and constantly changing in some way; that is the essence of life).
Advance your learning
Ready to level up your systems mapping skills?
Consider taking our 30 Day Systems Thinking Sprint to deepen your understanding of systems approaches to complex problem-solving, strengthen your systems mapping skills, explore systems dynamics, and discover systems archetypes through digestible daily content.
“Being part of the UnSchool is not just about finding a connection with a global group of individuals eager to do good. It’s about finding a way to activate your own agency, knowing that that’s the only real way to change your world.”
“The content has given me a practical way to delve into complex problems, exploring thinking far beyond my normal lines of inquiry, and to surface new areas for intervention and innovative ways of designing those interventions. Everyone who is tackling systems should learn this.”
Catriona McLagan
Refreshing
“As someone operating in the nonprofit sphere, it was refreshing to branch out and learn a new way of thinking. I’m going to take this new learning to become an agent of cultural change in my circles.”
Michael Paone
World renowned expert training
Your instructor
Sustainability provocateur, award-winning designer, UNEP Champion of the Earth, and creative changemaker pioneer, Dr. Leyla Acaroglu challenges people to think differently about how the world works. Leyla’s main-stage TED talk on sustainability has been viewed over a million times, she is the founder of the UnSchool and creator of the Disruptive Design Method. As as a renowned international expert on systems thinking and sustainability, she runs workshops around the world and designs unique educational experiences that help equip people with the tools to intervene and change systems to make the status quo obsolete. Leyla is sought after for her unique approach to activating positive social change by design.
Options and Pricing
Three payment options:
Full price: This pricing level is for those who have the resources to contribute the full price in one or two split payments. Your full price payment helps support those who otherwise would have a hard time accessing the course.
Supported price: This pricing level is for those who can contribute to the course cost, but not at the full level, however are still relatively comfortable with the cost. The supported price is equivalent to approximately half price.
Emerging price: This price level is for those who have either currency conversions that are distinctly unfavourable, are students, or are experiencing other hardships or circumstances that are impacting their ability to pay the full or supported fee.
What you get
Discover how to create quick and complex analog systems maps
Techniques for more advanced maps
Learn how to see relationships and communicate complex systems
You will have access for 90 days from the date of purchase.
We recommend a few hours over the course of a week.
If you need more time, please send us an email. There may be a small fee depending on how much more time you need. These are granted on a case by case basis.
Find out if you are eligible for our Equity Access Scholarships
As part of our goal to make our programs equitable, we offer both partial scholarships and payment plans. Our limited number of scholarships are awarded based on demonstrated need to certain select courses and programs. We fund these to promote equitable access to our programs. We are committed to offering our scholarships to community members who would otherwise be unable to access a program at all.
