Our cognitive limitations makes it difficult for many of us to perceive the complex and unpredictable dynamics of wicked problems as they evolve over time. Increasingly accessible computer hardware and software is allowing us to directly engage with this complexity and unpredictability so as to allow us to make better decisions. In this study unit, you will be exploring the unpredictable nature of dynamic, non-linear systems by simulating several simple population dynamics models using Netlogo — a software tool that can be freely downloaded from http://ccl.northwestern.edu/ netlogo/ . You will then propose your own model describing the dynamics of a complex situation of your choosing, and find data to support your model.
This unit is from our archive and is an adapted extract from Understanding systems: making use of complexity (T214) which is no longer taught by The Open University. If you want to study formally with us, you may wish to explore other courses we offer in this subject area.