Storytelling Building Systemic Understanding

An isee systems Webinar series

Presented by Chris Soderquist, Pontifex Consulting February 11, 2011

Session 1

Storytelling: Session 1

Audio

•  If you are using your computer for audio, headphones work best.

•  If the sound is faint, click the 'Audio Setup' link on the audio panel and verify the volume is turned up.

•  If sound is inconsistent or you lose audio, switch to the telephone via the audio panel. When you choose the telephone option, the number to dial will be displayed.

Wow! I can hear so

much better!

Storytelling: Session 1

Mechanics

•  Will be using GoToWebinar Viewer software

•  Let’s take a quick look at it now

Storytelling: Session 1

Expectations

•  Lots of examples •  Mostly one way transmission…ugh! •  You will walk away with a broad(er)

understanding of applications •  You will have enough valid information to

make an informed choice about signing up for the webinar series.

•  We hope you do!! (of course)

Storytelling: Session 1

So you’ve built a STELLA/iThink map or model…

Why you’re attending this session

And you want to share your thinking with others.

Storytelling: Session 1

The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.

-Edwin Schlossberg

Storytelling: Session 1

The Secrets of Storytelling: Why We Love a Good Yarn

Jeremy Hsu

•  Narrative [is] a series of causally linked events that unfold over time.

•  [Best tales] captivate their audience...[immerse into a] state psychologists call "narrative transport."

•  Stories may act as "flight simulators" for social [all!] life.

Stories support learning together

Storytelling: Session 1

Using Storytelling to Learn Together

Impacts will be •  Help your learner improve

their mental model by… –  Engaging “whole person” in

a more visceral way –  Facilitate their asking

important causal questions –  Surface and challenge their

(often implicit) assumptions •  Improve the quality of your

mental model by shaking out fuzzy thinking

Storytelling: Session 1

Online Netsims with Storytelling: Counterinsurgency

Self-paced annotations to build understanding

http://forio.com/simulate/pontifexconsult/

“I learned more about the Afghan War in 15 minutes than I did about [the issue we applied system dynamics to] the past 5 years!”

-Quote from one user

Storytelling: Session 1

Online Netsims with Storytelling: Peak Oil Communicating control panel assumptions

http://forio.com/simulate/pontifexconsult/

Visually show assumptions behind various control panel inputs. Here storytelling shows what changing the knob on the left will do.

Storytelling: Session 1

Online Netsims with Storytelling: Gas Prices and Fuel Economy Using sounds and graphics to enhance learning

http://forio.com/simulate/pontifexconsult/

Audio voiceover is used to explain assumptions as the learner unfolds the map. Graphics provide additional explanatory power.

Get an artist to humanize the diagram

Storytelling: Session 1

Storytelling uses and features (some of the many)

Uses •  Unfold assumptions at

learner’s pace •  Link behavior to structure

(simulate sets of assumptions) •  Embedding multimedia to

engage more of the “whole person”

•  Insert text boxes to receive input from learner “as they go”

•  Sharing online via Netsim

Supporting Software Features •  Highlight breaks (review

feedback loops and structure) •  Annotations •  Grouping objects •  Chapters (remove items) •  Objects (buttons, graphics) can

appear/disappear

Storytelling: Session 1

Leverage Points for Intervening in a System Donella Meadows

2. Changing Paradigms

1. Ability to Change Paradigms

Storytelling: Session 1

No homework, but… Do these!

•  Review the Netsims at http://forio.com/simulate/pontifexconsult/

•  Contact me if you have questions about upcoming sessions

•  Sign up for the full series!

See you in two weeks! I hope! Till then, remember to… •  Do the Do These actions! :-) •  Use the discussion forum (if you sign up) •  How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

Practice! Practice! Practice!