Sustainability through Soccer: Systems-Thinking in Action

Sustainability through Soccer: Systems-Thinking in Action

Name: Sustainability through Soccer: Systems-Thinking in Action
Rating: 4.088888888888889 (45 reviews)

Instructor: Leidy Klotz

5,272 already enrolled

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

45 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

45 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

7 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

This course takes learners on a journey through a progression of systems-thinking and sustainability concepts. Using the beautiful game of soccer (also known as football in many parts of the world) as an analogy, we'll work together to illuminate real-world interdependencies (such as between climate change and human rights), building the chain of concepts in a fun, accessible way. Soccer/Football nerds and newbies alike will be entertained and, ultimately, rewarded with the epiphanies that come from seeing in systems more clearly.

Those who complete the course will: create examples of systems parts, boundaries, and behaviors related to sustainability (and soccer/football); practice evaluating the sustainability of systems they care about using several complementary methods; generate ideas to improve the sustainability of a system they care about; and explain a mindset shift that would enhance the sustainability of a system they care about.

This section explains who I am, why I'm using soccer as a metaphor, systems and reductionist thinking and sustainability. This section also outlines the main parts of a system (elements, flows, stocks, feedback loops, and purpose).

What's included

8 videos3 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts

8 videos Total 21 minutes

Why soccer? 3 minutes
The Black Panther and The Sacred Monster 4 minutes
Overlooked System Elements 2 minutes
Physical Flows 2 minutes
Information Flows 2 minutes
Stocks 2 minutes
Feedback Loops 2 minutes
Purpose 3 minutes

3 readings Total 40 minutes

Why me? 10 minutes
Systems-Thinking for Sustainability 15 minutes
System Parts: Elements, Flows, Stocks, Feedback Loops and Purpose 15 minutes

3 assignments Total 86 minutes

Reflection: How can you be successful in this course? 30 minutes
Reductionist and Systemic Thinking, Sustainability and Soccer 30 minutes
System Parts: Elements, Stocks, Flows, Feedback Loops and Purpose 26 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 20 minutes

Elements of a System 10 minutes
Feedback Loops 10 minutes

Our approach to sustainability depends on how we define our system boundaries. What must we consider? What can we leave out? And, what can we reasonably infer from the perspective we define? We will also dive into system behaviors in this section. With parts and boundaries defined, we can detect system-level behaviors and discover how they affect sustainability.

What's included

10 videos4 readings2 assignments4 discussion prompts

10 videos Total 23 minutes

Space 3 minutes
Time 2 minutes
Detail 3 minutes
Inputs and Outputs 3 minutes
Insight 2 minutes
Interdependence 3 minutes
Thresholds 2 minutes
Self-Organization 2 minutes
Resilience 2 minutes
Emergence 2 minutes

4 readings Total 60 minutes

System Boundaries 15 minutes
Level of Detail 15 minutes
System Behaviors 15 minutes
Interdependence 15 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

System Boundaries 30 minutes
System Behaviors 30 minutes

4 discussion prompts Total 40 minutes

Space Boundaries 10 minutes
Level of Detail 10 minutes
Threshold Crossing 10 minutes
Resilience 10 minutes

To evaluate sustainability in our systems, and check our progress, there are properties to consider and methods to apply. Once we define and evaluate our systems, then we’re ready to create systems that are more sustainable.

What's included

12 videos4 readings2 assignments4 discussion prompts

12 videos Total 27 minutes

Path Dependence 3 minutes
Inertia 3 minutes
Carrying Capacities 2 minutes
The Five Whys 3 minutes
Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) 2 minutes
Biomimicry 3 minutes
Closing Loops 2 minutes
Adaptability 2 minutes
Polycentrism 2 minutes
Transparency 2 minutes
Systematic Inequality 2 minutes
Elegant Systems are Sustainable Systems 2 minutes

4 readings Total 60 minutes

Evaluating Sustainability Overview 15 minutes
Path Dependence 15 minutes
Creating Sustainable Systems Overview 15 minutes
Closing Loops 15 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Life Cycle Assessment - Your Footprint 10 minutes
Creating Sustainable Systems 30 minutes

4 discussion prompts Total 40 minutes

The Five Whys 10 minutes
Adaptability 10 minutes
Transparency 10 minutes
Elegant Systems 10 minutes

There is no magical fix; pursuing sustainability is an endless quest of constant effort at the limits of our abilities, and that’s where the fun is.

What's included

3 videos2 readings1 peer review1 discussion prompt

3 videos Total 7 minutes

Visioning 3 minutes
Leverage Points 2 minutes
Mindset 2 minutes

2 readings Total 25 minutes

The Endless Quest 10 minutes
Leverage Points and Women's Equality in Brazil 15 minutes

1 peer review Total 30 minutes

What is your vision of a sustainable world in ten years and what can you do to get there? 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 10 minutes

Vision 10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(13 ratings)

Leidy Klotz

University of Virginia

2 Courses 5,345 learners

Offered by

University of Virginia

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Reviewed on Oct 26, 2021

The course was an eye opener. It also gave me methods that I can use to understand very complex systems.

Reviewed on May 3, 2020

I have enjoyed doing the course. Its is different and informative as well. Thank you

Reviewed on Apr 9, 2020

very easy to understand though some examples took time as i belong to a different cultural background

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