Learning Journal: Systems Thinking and Socio-Ecological Systems

This learning journal showcases a student's exploration of systems thinking, sustainability, and related concepts within the context of environmental science. The journal entries cover various aspects, including key definitions, examples from credible sources, and the student's critical analysis of the information. It also includes discussions from tutorials, connections to real-world events, and potential project ideas. The student references multiple articles and books to support their understanding of topics such as socio-ecological systems, resilience, and leverage points for sustainability. Each entry reflects the student's engagement with the material, their comprehension of complex ideas, and their ability to apply these concepts to practical scenarios. The journal also touches on the student's evolving understanding of systems thinking in diverse contexts, including waste management and work-life balance.

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
AREA to COVER
1 Unit reading I have read - detail reference below at 7 [approximately 15 words]
Introduction to Systems Thinking
2 One Key definition/concept from the reading
That relate to the central unit topics such as systems thinking, socio-ecological systems and resilience [approximately30-50 words]
The Key definition/ concept from the reading describe “Systems Thinking”, the way it approaches to the society, its contexts and frameworks. The article is interesting
because it is simple and written in an easy to understand way. The article has comprehended the “Systems thinking” concept in a dissected way by making part by part
understandable. The article has talked about “Systems thinking” by giving day to day examples about its application (Arnold & Wade, 2015).
3 Evidence from credible sources that provide examples of the concept/term
My analysis and judgement of the evidence provided (critical thinking) [approximately30-80 words]
The mention and usage of Mental Models through pictorial representations in order to make the readers understand how the world works and how systems thinking is
designed and carried out is shown in the particular article lucidly.
4 Tutorial/online engagement -
a. Discussions in the unit that I started or participated in and new knowledge I have gained from them in relation to the reading/s AND/OR
b. Concepts or ideas that I was not sure of and for which I sought clarification from tutor/peers [approximately30-50 words for a and/or b]

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
I was not aware of “Systems thinking” earlier before going through the article. After reading the complete article, I understood the concept of Systems thinking and
interrelationships in systems thinking through various intriguing graphical and pictorial representations in a better way.
5 Examples of connections:
Between readings/concepts and your knowledge of situations/events that have occurred in your region within Australia or overseas [approximately 50 words]
Systems thinking has been a new concept for me altogether while I read the article. The central idea of systems thinking which is learning about the reality and how to work
with systems that influence the quality of our lives is significant for me because what I see all around myself, which is the different systems of the society that influence our
lives gives me a clear picture about Systems thinking (Haines, 2016).
6 Possible ideas for my choice ofmajor project drawing on readings, lectures and tutorials [approximately30 words]
The idea that I have got through the article for my upcoming project would be “How systems thinking is utilized in medical institutions in our society” where I would be
able to utilize my theoretical “systems thinking” skills in pragmatic way to understand the concept better.
7 References using Author/Date e.g. APA or Chicago style [approximately20-30 words]
Haines, S. (2016). The systems thinking approach to strategic planning and management. CRC Press.
Arnold, R. D., & Wade, J. P. (2015). A definition of systems thinking: A systems approach. Procedia Computer Science, 44(2015), 669-678.

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
AREA to COVER
1 Unit reading I have read - detail reference below at 7 [approximately 15 words]
Sustainability Definitions, Historical
Context, and Frameworks
2 One Key definition/concept from the reading
That relate to the central unit topics such as systems thinking, socio-ecological systems and resilience [approximately 30-50 words]
The term “sustainability” is the key concept that is related to the central topics of systems thinking, socio- ecological systems and resilience in the abstract. In the given
abstract, sustainability is defined as usage of resources in such a way that ecology is not harmed in future by resource exhaustion. The idea of sustainability is liked with
conservation of socio-ecology, resilience and systematic development keeping environment in mind which the extract has tried to decipher.
3 Evidence from credible sources that provide examples of the concept/term
My analysis and judgement of the evidence provided (critical thinking) [approximately 30-80 words]
The article has described about the definition of “sustainability: according to the Merriam Webster dictionary. The definition that Merriam Webster about sustainability has
stated that it is mainly about resource conservation and judicious usage of resources. The article has also stated the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s
definition of sustainability, which is maintaining socio- ecological balance in an anthropocene where sustainability is defined by coming into a harmony with the
environment and humans (Lewis & Maslin, 2015).
4 Tutorial/online engagement -
a. Discussions in the unit that I started or participated in and new knowledge I have gained from them in relation to the reading/s AND/OR
b. Concepts or ideas that I was not sure of and for which I sought clarification from tutor/peers [approximately 30-50 words for a and/or b]

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
Many sociological, psychological and ecological concepts were not known to me until I read the article. Concepts such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, anthropocene and
the three pillars of sustainability are the new concepts that I have come to know through the article. It has enriched me with valuable knowledge about my surroundings and
the world.
5 Examples of connections:
Between readings/concepts and your knowledge of situations/events that have occurred in your region within Australia or overseas [approximately 50 words]
The particular article has talked about sustainability, its concepts, definitions, historical contexts and frameworks (Johnston et al., 2007). The article is significant in the
reality because it speaks about the importance of sustainability and conservation of resource for a better and secured future. In today’s world where I witness pollution and
global warming everywhere, I sternly believe that the article is significant and goes well with the current scenario of the world.
6 Possible ideas for my choice ofmajor project drawing on readings, lectures and tutorials [approximately 30 words]
My choice of project by reading the article would be “waste management techniques at home” where I would work on sustainability measures through activities so that
desired outcomes are reached.
7 References using Author/Date e.g. APA or Chicago style [approximately 20-30 words]
Johnston, Paul, Mark Everard, David Santillo, and Karl-Henrick Robert. 2007. Reclaiming the Definition of Sustainability. Environmental Science and Pollution
Research 14 (1): 60–66.
Lewis, S. L., & Maslin, M. A. (2015). Defining the anthropocene. Nature, 519(7542), 171-180.

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
AREA to COVER
1 Unit reading I have read - detail reference below at 7 [approximately 15 words]
Thinking in systems
2 One Key definition/concept from the reading
That relate to the central unit topics such as systems thinking, socio-ecological systems and resilience [approximately 30-50 words]
The key concept that the author has tried to decipher in the respective article is the understanding of “systems in our world”. The article has gone through the concept of
complexities in logic and how the world works with the contradictions of logic.
3 Evidence from credible sources that provide examples of the concept/term
My analysis and judgement of the evidence provided (critical thinking) [approximately 30-80 words]
The article highlights the lines of G.K. Chesterton, who is a twentieth century author. According to his lines that are highlighted by the article, the problem with the world is
not illogical issues, but the complexities and complications of logic. The lines talk about how our lives are shaped by different systems thinking processes and logics
through which we decide what to do and what not.
4 Tutorial/online engagement -
a. Discussions in the unit that I started or participated in and new knowledge I have gained from them in relation to the reading/s AND/OR
b. Concepts or ideas that I was not sure of and for which I sought clarification from tutor/peers [approximately 30-50 words for a and/or b]
Issues such as self- organizing, nonlinear feedback systems and its significance in the day to day activities in our life were not fully known by me before I went through the
article carefully (Wright & Meadows, 2008). I know can understand clearly about the problems regarding action, reaction and logic behind it and how the
world works with positivity and negativity.

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
5 Examples of connections:
Between readings/concepts and your knowledge of situations/events that have occurred in your region within Australia or overseas [approximately 50 words]
The article goes at par with the current situation in the world I witness every day. In social media and other medias, we see a lot of people complaining about their life and
their work, where people try to find out balance between the two. Through a lot of systems thinking approaches, life coaches give tips and tricks about maintaining a
healthy work life balance (Arnold & Wade, 2017). Thus, the article is contemporary to the present situation of the world.
6 Possible ideas for my choice ofmajor project drawing on readings, lectures and tutorials [approximately 30 words]
Through the article, I have the idea to start a major project on “Systems thinking in the lives of working single parents and work- life balance” where we would formulate
measures and take actions to get the desirable results, which is solutions to all the life problems single parents face.
7 References using Author/Date e.g. APA or Chicago style [approximately 20-30 words]
Wright, D., & Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in systems. Earthscan.
Arnold, R. D., & Wade, J. P. (2017). A complete set of systems thinking skills. Insight, 20(3), 9-17.

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
AREA to COVER
1 Unit reading I have read - detail reference below at 7 [approximately 15 words]
A Systems Thinking Approach to identify
Leverage Points for Sustainability: A Case
Study in the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve,
Vietnam
2 One Key definition/concept from the reading
That relate to the central unit topics such as systems thinking, socio-ecological systems and resilience [approximately 30-50 words]
The key definition/ concept of the respective article is unique as it talks about system thinking approaches in sustainability measures in order to leverage or enhance the
respective sustainability measures. The concept is a unique one as it deals with systems thinking that consists of socio –ecological balance (Nguyen & Bosch, 2013).
3 Evidence from credible sources that provide examples of the concept/term
My analysis and judgement of the evidence provided (critical thinking) [approximately 30-80 words]

Learning Journal Name: Student number: Week/tutorial Date:
According to the article that states “a new way of thinking to manage complex problems” that are “locally or globally experienced” in the approach to sustainability, which
means conservation and judicious utilization of resources for developmental activities according to Bosch et al. 2007.
4 Tutorial/online engagement -
a. Discussions in the unit that I started or participated in and new knowledge I have gained from them in relation to the reading/s AND/OR
b. Concepts or ideas that I was not sure of and for which I sought clarification from tutor/peers [approximately 30-50 words for a and/or b]
The particular article has given me a new dimension in understanding systems thinking in sustainability. Concepts such as sustainability systems thinking, Four levels of
thinking framework and systems archetypes are completely new for me. The articles have helped me to gain deeper insights about different levels of systems thinking and
how they can be utilized in sustainability measures to increase the productivity and leverage of the sustainability activities (Bosch et al., 2007).
5 Examples of connections:
Between readings/concepts and your knowledge of situations/events that have occurred in your region within Australia or overseas [approximately 50 words]
The article is important for the present situation because it has given the clear picture of what is needed in today’s world, which is a proper system thinking and designed
sustainability measures for the betterment of the society and environment.
6 Possible ideas for my choice ofmajor project drawing on readings, lectures and tutorials [approximately 30 words]
By going through the article, I have thought of undertaking a project on “Systems thinking in sustainable waste management by plastic eradication” where I would have the
chance to utilize the theories in pragmatic and practical life.
7 References using Author/Date e.g. APA or Chicago style [approximately 20-30 words]
Bosch, O. J. H., King, C. A., Herbohn, J. L., Russell, I. W., & Smith, C. S. (2007). Getting the big picture in
natural resource management—systems thinking as ‘method’for scientists, policy makers and other
stakeholders. Systems Research and Behavioral Science: The Official Journal of the International Federation
for Systems Research, 24(2), 217-232.
Nguyen, N. C., & Bosch, O. J. (2013). A systems thinking approach to identify leverage points for sustainability: a case study in the Cat Ba Biosphere
Reserve, Vietnam. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 30(2), 104-115.