Research
Research on systems thinking in the Holme group focuses on using concept maps and SOCMEs to evaluate undergraduate chemistry students' system-thinking skills. First, environmental contexts were introduced to students in the context of chemistry. Then, students were taught how to use concept maps and develop SOCMEs over the course of a semester. Now we continue to develop ways to assess students' concept maps, SOCMEs, and systems thinking skills. Want to learn more about what we've been working on? Click the button below to see our recent publications.
What is systems thinking?
"Chemical systems thinking involves the integration of a mechanistic-reasoning approach, a context-based focus, and a sustainable-action perspective in the development and application of chemical knowledge, practices, and ways of thinking in chemistry education" – Talanquer 2019
What is a concept map?
Concept maps are a visualization tool that can be used to evaluate how students organize and connect concepts. These visualization tools can reveal students' knowledge and systems thinking skills. (Reynders and Potgieter 2023).
Students can expand their concept map by creating subsystems. These expanded concept maps are called Systems-Oriented Concept Map Extensions. The Holme group utilizes an online tool called SOCKit, developed by Peter Mahaffey (Kings University) as part of the IUPAC Project 2020, to teach students how to make SOCMEs digitally. You can check out the SOCKit tool at the link below.
Want to learn more about concept maps and SOCKit? Check out the group YouTube channel or watch the video below.
References
Talanquer V., Some Insights into Assessing Chemical Systems Thinking., J. Chem. Educ. 2019, 96, 12, 2918–2925
Reynders M. and Potgeteir M., Teaching and Assessing Systems Thinking in First-Year Chemistry. J. Chem. Educ. 2023, 100, 3, 1357–1365
MacDonald, R.; Elgersma, A.; Holme, T.; Snyder, J.; Reynders, M.; Mahaffy, P. SOCKit: An Online Tool for Systems Thinking. J. Chem. Educ. 2025. 102, 7, 2990-29906.