Analysing Complexity

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E-learning

Analysing Complexity

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan . 

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About this course: The first course of the specialization ANALYZING COMPLEXITY will teach you what unifying patterns lie at the core of all complex problems. It advances your knowledge of your own field by teaching you to look at it in new ways. ANALYZING COMPLEXITY is constructed in the following way: Week I. "What is Complexity?" - What is at the core of all complex problems Week II. "Complex Physical Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in the inanimate world Week III. "Complex Adaptive Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in nature Week IV. "Complex Cultural Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in human society Week V. "Complexity, Fragil…

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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan . 

  • Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
  • Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.

About this course: The first course of the specialization ANALYZING COMPLEXITY will teach you what unifying patterns lie at the core of all complex problems. It advances your knowledge of your own field by teaching you to look at it in new ways. ANALYZING COMPLEXITY is constructed in the following way: Week I. "What is Complexity?" - What is at the core of all complex problems Week II. "Complex Physical Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in the inanimate world Week III. "Complex Adaptive Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in nature Week IV. "Complex Cultural Systems" - What complex problems all have in common in human society Week V. "Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown" - Why complex problems arise Week VI. "Complexity in the Anthropocene" - What complex problems face us today

Who is this class for: This course is for everyone: from any level of expertise, any field, any industry, any discipline. And for good reason. It teaches skills that enhance your work and endeavours, regardless of who you are. If you want to perform better in your career, to innovate in your field, and to improve your future prospects - take this course!

Created by:  Macquarie University

  • Taught by:  David Baker, Associate Lecturer

    Big History Institute

  • Taught by:  David Christian, Professor

    Big History Institute

  • Taught by:  Shawn Ross, Associate Professor

    Big History Institute
Basic Info Course 1 of 4 in the Solving Complex Problems Specialization Level Beginner Language English How To Pass Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. User Ratings 4.8 stars Average User Rating 4.8See what learners said Coursework

Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.

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Macquarie University Macquarie is a hub of inspired and unconstrained thinking. Macquarie was founded with a unique purpose: to bring minds together unhindered by tradition. Created to challenge the education establishment, Macquarie has a rich track record of innovation. Macquarie actively shapes the complex issues that define the future of humanity.

Syllabus


WEEK 1


What is complexity?



Welcome to the first course of our specialisation on solving complex problems! In this module, we will be looking at complexity in the broadest sense and how it relates to us. From there we will zoom in to different aspects of this universal and all-encompassing concept.


5 videos, 8 readings expand


  1. Video: Complexity
  2. Reading: Specialisation Assessment Overview
  3. Reading: A Preview of the Briefing Paper Assignment
  4. Reading: Assessment Overview for Course 1: Analysing Complexity
  5. Video: Defining Complexity as a Concept
  6. Reading: Resources
  7. Reading: Glossary
  8. Video: Complexity and Energy Flows
  9. Reading: Resources
  10. Reading: Glossary
  11. Video: Complex Systems
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: Assessments - Specialisation Overview

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 1
Graded: Short writing for Module 1: What is complexity?

WEEK 2


Complex Physical Systems
In this module, we'll look at how complexity operates in the inanimate universe, the corresponding links between physics, chemistry, and geology and how they reflect the ground rules of all forms of complexity.


5 videos, 9 readings expand


  1. Video: Complexity in the Non-Living World
  2. Reading: Resources
  3. Reading: Glossary
  4. Video: Cosmic Complexity
  5. Reading: Resources
  6. Reading: Glossary
  7. Video: Chemical Complexity
  8. Reading: Resources
  9. Reading: Glossary
  10. Video: Planetary Complexity
  11. Reading: Resources
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: Complex Physical Systems
  14. Reading: Glossary

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 2
Graded: Short writing for Module 2: Complex physical systems

WEEK 3


Complex Adaptive Systems
In this module, we'll explore the ratcheting up of complexity inside adaptive systems, and the impact adaptation has on the rules of the game for constantly evolving complex systems.


6 videos, 11 readings expand


  1. Video: Complex Adaptive Systems
  2. Reading: Resources
  3. Reading: Glossary
  4. Video: Dissipative Structures
  5. Reading: Resources
  6. Reading: Glossary
  7. Video: Cellular Complexity
  8. Reading: Resources
  9. Reading: Glossary
  10. Video: The Complexity of Brains
  11. Reading: Resources
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: Complex Ecosystems
  14. Reading: Resources
  15. Reading: Glossary
  16. Video: Adaptive Systems and Ecosystems
  17. Reading: Glossary

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 3
Graded: Short writing for Module 3: Complex adaptive systems

WEEK 4


Complex Cultural Systems



In this module, we'll look at an even more powerful adaptive system - culture. We'll survey what is at the root of this new form of complexity and how this impacts our thinking about how human society, the most complex system of which we are aware, functions and evolves.


6 videos, 11 readings expand


  1. Video: Human Complexity
  2. Reading: Resources
  3. Reading: Glossary
  4. Video: The Evolution of Language
  5. Reading: Resources
  6. Reading: Glossary
  7. Video: Social Complexity
  8. Reading: Resources
  9. Reading: Glossary
  10. Video: Linguistic Complexity
  11. Reading: Resources
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: Complexity Wealth and Consumption
  14. Reading: Resources
  15. Reading: Glossary
  16. Video: Complex Cultural Systems
  17. Reading: Glossary

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 4
Graded: Short writing for Module 4: Social complexity

WEEK 5


Complexity, Fragility, and Breakdown



In this module, we'll look at the decline of complexity. So far we've focused on how complex systems sustain or increase themselves. In order to truly understand every angle of all complex systems - physical, biological, and cultural - we need to understand how and when they collapse, and what all those breakdowns have in common.


7 videos, 13 readings expand


  1. Video: The Breakdown of Complexity
  2. Reading: Resources
  3. Reading: Glossary
  4. Video: The Breakdown of Stars and the Universe
  5. Reading: Resources
  6. Reading: Glossary
  7. Video: The Breakdown of Organic Chemicals
  8. Reading: Resources
  9. Reading: Glossary
  10. Video: The Breakdown of Species
  11. Reading: Resources
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: The Breakdown of Societies
  14. Reading: Resources
  15. Reading: Glossary
  16. Video: The Breakdown of Economies
  17. Reading: Resources
  18. Reading: Glossary
  19. Video: Fragility and Collapse
  20. Reading: Glossary

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 5
Graded: Short writing for Module 5: Limits to complexity

WEEK 6


Complexity in the Anthropocene



Now that we've explored the different kinds of complex systems and have some idea of the risks and dangers involved, this module will look at how these concerns impact us in the present Anthropocene epoch, where humanity faces many threats of decline and collapse amid the most complex system that we know of in the visible universe.


6 videos, 9 readings expand


  1. Video: The Anthropocene
  2. Reading: Resources
  3. Reading: Glossary
  4. Video: Measuring Sustainability in the Anthropocene
  5. Reading: Resources
  6. Reading: Glossary
  7. Video: Global Politics in the Anthropocene
  8. Reading: Resources
  9. Reading: Glossary
  10. Video: Population Health in the Anthropocene
  11. Reading: Resources
  12. Reading: Glossary
  13. Video: Increasing Complexity and the Anthropocene
  14. Reading: Glossary
  15. Video: The Final Assignment

Graded: Multiple Choice - Mod 6
Graded: Short writing for Module 6: Complexity in the Anthropocene
Graded: Final assignment for Course 1: Analysing Complexity
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