Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design
Global climate change is an important, complex problem worldwide. Systems thinking skills enable us to solve complex problems from a holistic perspective. Based on this relationship, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of a systems thinking based global climate change module on student...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/794 |
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| author | Sevgi Aslıhan Karayol Ünsal Umdu Topsakal |
| author_facet | Sevgi Aslıhan Karayol Ünsal Umdu Topsakal |
| author_sort | Sevgi Aslıhan Karayol |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global climate change is an important, complex problem worldwide. Systems thinking skills enable us to solve complex problems from a holistic perspective. Based on this relationship, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of a systems thinking based global climate change module on students’ systems thinking skills. A mixed method explanatory design was used with 104 eighth grade students in Turkey. The systems thinking based global climate change module was implemented face to face with first group and with a blended learning method with second group. Activities for a control group were designed according to the curriculum objectives. Students’ systems thinking skills were analyzed quantitatively with the Systems Thinking Skills Test and qualitatively with document analysis. The results showed that the students who used the module, regardless of the implementation method, increased their systems thinking skills significantly, providing more complex answers, ideas, and solutions regarding issues associated with global climate change. The new generation will have to cope with the complex problems of today’s world and produce solutions to them. Therefore, it is recommended that their systems thinking skills be supported by different disciplines, thus developing a holistic approach. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-71dc05a5e2744b7f9ccb8e7817a798c7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-71dc05a5e2744b7f9ccb8e7817a798c72025-08-20T03:07:57ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-06-0115779410.3390/educsci15070794Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods DesignSevgi Aslıhan Karayol0Ünsal Umdu Topsakal1Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul 34220, TurkeyDepartment of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul 34220, TurkeyGlobal climate change is an important, complex problem worldwide. Systems thinking skills enable us to solve complex problems from a holistic perspective. Based on this relationship, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of a systems thinking based global climate change module on students’ systems thinking skills. A mixed method explanatory design was used with 104 eighth grade students in Turkey. The systems thinking based global climate change module was implemented face to face with first group and with a blended learning method with second group. Activities for a control group were designed according to the curriculum objectives. Students’ systems thinking skills were analyzed quantitatively with the Systems Thinking Skills Test and qualitatively with document analysis. The results showed that the students who used the module, regardless of the implementation method, increased their systems thinking skills significantly, providing more complex answers, ideas, and solutions regarding issues associated with global climate change. The new generation will have to cope with the complex problems of today’s world and produce solutions to them. Therefore, it is recommended that their systems thinking skills be supported by different disciplines, thus developing a holistic approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/794global climate changesystems thinking skillsblended learningmodule development |
| spellingShingle | Sevgi Aslıhan Karayol Ünsal Umdu Topsakal Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design Education Sciences global climate change systems thinking skills blended learning module development |
| title | Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design |
| title_full | Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design |
| title_fullStr | Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design |
| title_full_unstemmed | Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design |
| title_short | Developing Systems Thinking Skills with a Global Climate Change Module: A Mixed Methods Design |
| title_sort | developing systems thinking skills with a global climate change module a mixed methods design |
| topic | global climate change systems thinking skills blended learning module development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/794 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sevgiaslıhankarayol developingsystemsthinkingskillswithaglobalclimatechangemoduleamixedmethodsdesign AT unsalumdutopsakal developingsystemsthinkingskillswithaglobalclimatechangemoduleamixedmethodsdesign |