Introduction to Dynamic Modeling I teaches you how to start building a model. No more blank pages staring you down! No more wondering how much detail to include!

Join Dr. Karim Chichakly as he guides you, step by step, through some of the key components in the process of effective model creation. During each 55-minute class, you'll learn the ins and outs of model creation as he shares his personal workflow and additional tips and tricks that he’s learned in more than 20 years of experience in the field.

Each class is followed with a question and answer session with Dr. Chichakly. Online access to these class recordings, sample models, handouts, and homework assignments are included to cement your learning.

Course Overview

Class 1: Introduction to Models

This class will review types and uses of models, as well as essential Systems Thinking skills such as operational thinking.

Class 2: Stocks and Flows

Stocks and flows are the basic building blocks of all Systems Thinking models. This class will introduce simple – yet important – stock flow structures. Using the concepts discussed in this session, we will begin building basic models.

Class 3: Behavior Over Time

When using Systems Thinking, we are particularly concerned with behavior over time and feedback. This class covers the first of these in great detail, showing the importance of graphs for defining the boundaries of your model.

Class 4: Feedback

Adding feedback to models closes the loop and creates a system whose structure determines its behavior. In this class, Causal Loop Diagrams and simple stock-flow structures with feedback are explored.