Jennifer Kushner

1. This project and resources are based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, under Agreement Nos. 2011-51130-31148 & 2015-68007-23213
Jennifer Kushner, Project Director
University of Wisconsin
jennifer.kushner@ces.uwex.edu
thinkwater.us

3. RESEARCH & Patent
(unifying theory)
“STATE OF THE FIELD” FRESH
MARKETING
SCALABLE MOOC
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUED
EMPOWERMENT ONLINE
POWERFUL MODELING TOOLS
ENGAGE EDUCATE
EMPOWER
SYSTEMS THINKING
ORGANIZATION
AND IN PERSON
SECRET SAUCE
SYSTEMS THINKING
EVALUATION AND
RESEARCH
EXECUTION &
EVOLUTION

4. Evaluation Studies
Phase 1: Proof of Concept
 3 educators; NM and OH; non-formal;
1 hour training; 4 lessons over 6 days
 Taught 2 original lessons; 2
“thinkified” lessons (best of the
best)
 Youth (n=~ 51 )
 Statistically significant gain in
content understanding with
just structuring (DSRP)
e.g.clean water vs. wetlands help filter
water and stop erosion
Phase 2: “Flip-ability” Pilot
 3 educators; AZ; 9 hours
online training in ST
concepts, tools; how to
teach
 80 educators receive 3
days of training by 3 who
use ST101 course in their
training- “flipping”; on-line l
earning builds skills
 Youth (n=~2500) learn
water content “thinkified”
by their own teacher
 Student data: 2015 (pre) &
May 2016 (post).

5. Water Systems Thinking ThinkWater

7. Unexpected results
water and beyond…
“Common language”
food
security
national
security
climate
agriculture
environment
energy
reclamation
public
health
science &
tech
water
oceanic
atmospheric
land use

8. This project and resources are based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, under Agreement Nos. 2011-51130-31148 & 2015-68007-23213
THANK YOU to USDA-NIFA
…and for your attention!
thinkwater.us