Abstract for: An Educational Program Design: Human Body System with Systems Thinking

This study focused on using systems thinking to teach students about the human body's digestive, circulatory, and respiratory systems. The lesson plans and learning materials utilized conceptual and numerical models with system dynamics and system thinking tools. The study was implemented at Darussafaka Middle School in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 academic years with 98 6th-grade science students. Using system thinking tools helped teachers to teach subjects more efficiently, requiring less class time, while also enabling them to simultaneously illustrate the mechanisms of human body systems and their corresponding graphs. This approach helped students to improve their graph-reading skills and deepen their understanding of the concepts. Additionally, the concept map created with the aid of system thinking tools, namely a stock-flow diagram, helped to correct various misconceptions, such as the difference between chemical and physical digestion. In conclusion, this study highlights the benefits of incorporating system thinking tools in teaching science subjects, particularly in helping students to understand complex concepts better such as the human body's various systems. The use of these tools not only helps to improve students' academic performance but also enables teachers to be more effective in delivering their lessons.