Researchers have become increasingly interested in the potential use of agent-based modelling for the prediction of social phenomena, motivated by the desire, first, to further cement the method's scientific status and, second, to participate in other scenarios, particularly in the aid of decision-making. This article contributes to the current…

In this article, we develop and evaluate a novel system and computing platform to structure, measure, and improve student development using points. We define student development broadly as the achievement of learning to do, know, live together, and be. The system leverages individual agency, social influences, content generation and sharing,…

Reviewing complex interventions is challenging because they include many elements that can interact dynamically in a nonlinear manner. A systems perspective offers a way of thinking to help understand complex issues, but its application in evidence synthesis is not established. The aim of this project was to understand how and why systems…

Quality enhancement projects in universities frequently rely on short-term, fragmented studies implemented in response to snapshot data linked to student feedback. Such projects may not address the complex interplay across stakeholder groups and do not always acknowledge the unintended consequences of change. This article, focused on systems…

This study focuses on Grounded Theory, which is one of the qualitative research designs. Glaser and Strauss developed the Grounded Theory; it has been revised by other scientists, resulting in three distinct Grounded Theory approaches: the systematic design (Corbin and Strauss approach), the classical design (Glaser approach), and the…

Scholars have called for considering professional learning (PL) through the lens of complexity. One lens for operating amidst complexity is design. Designers thrive in complexity because of the responsive nature of their work; a designer develops their practice in response to a particular situation, adapting as it changes. Thus, a design lens is…

Many authentic BME projects require system integration. This year, before the start of the open-ended Capstone projects, three connected modules were used as an initiative to practice systems integration and thus promote readiness. To this aim, a Do-It-Yourself spectrophotometer/colorimeter was used as the interconnecting theme. In the first two…

This article builds upon current research to understand the value and limitations of teaching and learning design thinking (DT) in higher education. We implemented a mixed-methods study with faculty and students across 23 diverse courses in four higher education institutions in the United States. Findings showed that following structured learning…

The design of biological systems is a multidisciplinary activity in which biomedical engineers collaborate to build novel biological systems that address society's needs. One of the most relevant skills for designing biological systems is engineering systems thinking (EST). Among the EST elements, the EST cognitive competencies are comparatively…

The case focuses upon 1) a public health outcome, namely improving access to healthcare, 2) systems and design thinking approaches to software development and the internet of things, 3) mockup tools and user interface design, 4) understanding stakeholder requirements and feature requests, 5) presentation of a prototype application. This case…

Context is a key concept in developing realist causal explanations but its conceptualisation has received comparatively less attention. We conducted a review to explore how context is conceptualised within realist reviews and evaluations. We purposively selected 40 studies to examine: How is context defined? And how is context operationalised in…

This design case details the design process of a multiple-choice assessment of socio-scientific systems thinking. This assessment is situated within a larger project that aims to understand the ways students use multiple scientific models to understand complex socio-scientific issues. In addition to the research component, this project entails…

The study of educational effectiveness has become increasingly complex. Alongside methodological advancements in the investigation and measurement of educational effectiveness, meta-analyses conducted by leading researchers have shown that the field has been suffering from a significant lack of theory or from a weak theoretical basis. The present…

The world has experienced rapid changes, leading to pressing issues such as environmental degradation, social inequality, and resource depletion. As a transdisciplinary field, evaluation has emerged as a crucial tool in addressing these challenges and promoting systemic change. However, concerns have been raised regarding the field's capacity to…

An ecological framework is often used to describe the context for learning in educational research and practice. However, there is often a focus on descriptive aspects that frame the ecosystem as a complicated set of interconnected elements--but not a true complex problem. Acknowledging connections between ecosystem elements is not enough to…