Abstract for: Intro to Vensim with Bathtub Dynamics and Statistics

This hands-on workshop will provide a quick introduction to modeling with Vensim. In a new twist, we'll work with simple models of "bathtub dynamics" that also illustrate statistics for dynamic systems. This will help answer foundational questions like, what are we really doing when we're calibrating a model, and why is reasoning about dynamics so tricky? A primary purpose is to obtain technical proficiency with the software - building diagrams, writing and checking equations, running models and displaying output. However, in the process, we will work with interesting small models that address discrete events and stochastic behavior as well as the stock-flow dynamics that are the bread and butter of SD. As time permits and governed by the interest of participants, we will also cover growth and decay, nonlinearity and shifting loop dominance, tipping points and other interesting phenomena, or crafting good behavioral decision rules. If time is short, we'll provide resource links to some other video courses.