TOOLKIT for researchers
The THINKWATER TOOLKIT is a resource hub, developed to serve a wide range of constituents, and to provide the necessary tools in the best practices of systems thinking.
This page features resources for researchers.
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1. Learn the basics of DSRP Systems Thinking
Systems Thinking 101 - An introductory course in systems thinking visit
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A Little Film About a Big Idea watch on the ThinkWater homepage
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Systems Thing Made Simple - An introduction to systems thinking Kindle or book
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Infographics, posters, etc. downloadable resources
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2. Systems Thinking & Water
Rethinking Water watch on the ThinkWater homepage
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3. Apply Systems Thinking to your Research
Familiarize yourself with systems mapping software Plectica videos
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Map Library - View the library of Plectica maps created by The ThinkWater fellows, The
Wisconsin Water Thinkers Network, Wisconsin ThinkWater School, and others visit
CASE STUDIES
Using Mental Models to Organize Academic Literature Reviews download
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4. Evaluate your Work
Workbook - Program Development & Evaluation download
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Evaluation: Systems Thinking download
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Evaluation: Method Matching Matrix download
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Supplemental Resources
Analysis Using DSRP Questions download.
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Sample Focus Group Instrument for Evaluations Using Systems Thinking download.
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Sample Interview Instrument Using Systems Thinking download.
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WI Water Thinkers Network Survey download.
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ThinkWater School Participants Survey download.
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CONNECT
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ThinkWater People Directory: Exchange Ideas with the TW network. download
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ANIMATIONS
These animated sequences are designed to help explain some of the basic, fundamental aspects of systems thinking.
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Mental Models
Although it feels to our conscious self that we interact directly with the real world, in fact we interact indirectly with the real world through our mental models of it. Think of a mental model as a lens between you and reality, coloring what you see. As systems thinkers, we must acknowledge that our mental models are (often poor) approximations of reality. They provide us with only a partial picture; a frame through which we see what we believe to be real, skewed by our biases and beliefs.
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