1. Arab Open University (AOU)
Welcome To
Systems thinking & Practice (T205)

2. Systems Thinking & Practice (T 205)
Block 1
Learning about systems

3. Block 1 Learning about Systems
Week 1 - Getting started
Week 2 - Ways of learning & thinking
Week 3 - Systems thinking
Week 4 - Systems concepts; learning models
Week 5 - Diagramming
Week 6 - TMA 01 and looking a head

4. Getting started Block1 Week 1
Session 1 - Checking out the T205 web zone
Session 2 - Checking out the supplementary material
Session 3 - Installing Online applications
Session 4 - Linking to First Class
Session 5 - Scanning the course texts for this block
Session 6 - Linking Open
Session 7 - Summary of week 1

5. Checking out the T205 web zone Block 1 week 1 Session 1
Introduction: To web zone features
Familiarize: Yourself with T205 web zone
Home: Takes you back to opening page
Information: Links to pages explaining the operation
Maps: Shows all the major printed course material
Course guide: Shows the course materials
TMAs: Provides TMA questions, guidelines and deadlines
Search: This button will take you to a search engine and allows to search with particular words or phrases.
First class: Links you directly to the first class & conference system via the web
Open Links directly to the Open University’s electronic library facilities.
Routes: Links you to a part of the Open system with scroll down web link pages for T205
Where was I?: Takes you back to the page you last loaded
Off line work:
Navigation: Used for navigating as you click on the block title on top of the window will take you to the list of block titles

6. Checking out the supplementary material Block 1 week 1 Session 2
Make sure you have all the items shown on the mailing contents check list
Read the Chair’s letter
Scan the study calendar
Read course guide
Scan section 4 – 6 of the course guide for future reference

7. Installing Online applications Block 1 week 1 Session 3
Online Applications CD- ROM:
Installations CD- ROM coded P559
First Class
Web browser: We recommend using Microsoft Internet explorer 6 ( I E 6 )
Players and viewers: Micro-media shockwave and Flash ( already installed if you have installed IE6
Adobe Acrobat 5
Anti-virus Software:
Please install an anti-virus protection software on your computer and update it every week. If you have no other anti-virus software, then load it from the Online Application CD –ROM.
Help Desk:
If you have any problem with installing please call
Student Computing Help desk: For out side U.K Tel: ( ) or

8. Linking to First Class Block 1 week 1 Session 4
Linking to the First Class
Getting to grips with First Class
Exploring the T Conferences:
Connect via your ISP and web browser to the T205 web zone
Click on the First Class button on the T205 navigation bar or by clicking on the First Class icon on your PC desktop.
Enter your User name & Password in the box that appears and click on Login
You will find the various conferences like T Study, Hints, Tips, Common Room etc.
Locate your Tutor Group for conference
Exploring the First Class desktop
If you are not working online repeat step 1-3 of the previous activity.
Complete the task (Task 1) in TMA 11 as soon as you are ready

9. Scanning the course texts for this block Block1 week 1 Session 5
This session involves skim read the contents of course texts
Learning:
(Concept file 1 Learning ,Thinking and Doing)
Primer:
(T551 systems Thinking and Practice: A Primer)
Diagramming:
(T552 systems Thinking and Practice: Diagramming )
Case File 1 Supermarkets:
Read the introduction to case files and with special reference to “The dominance of super stores”

10. Linking Open libr@ry Block1 week 1 Session 6
Exploring the facilities offered by the Open
Library search task in TMA 11 for tracking down recent news articles relating to the super markets case files.
Task 1-The Lexis-Nexis database:
Connect to the Internet explorer
Open the open home page by clicking the button in the T205 web zone navigation bar
or alternatively you can key in library.open.ac.uk
select the resource tab at the top of the page
From the list select database and all databases
Scroll down the list and click on Lexis-Nexis Executive
If security alert box appears click ok or Yes to continue.
You need an ATHENS password to sign on to Lexis-Nexis Executive or get one from the
Student portal
In the search term (s) box key in supermarkets, then click search - see what happens
Task 2-The Business Source Premier (EBSCO) database
Press the browser’s back button repeatedly until you get back to the A-Z listing of data bases on the open web site
Scroll up or down the list and click on Business Source Premier (EBSCO)

11. Linking Open libr@ry Block1 week 1 Session 6
Task 3-Going on SAFARI
Connect to the internet
Access the Safari pages by using link on the Open home page or by entering URL
Key in your OU computer user name and password if requested
Click on the link for OU students and staff
Skim read the information in getting started
Using the menu at the top of the page
Click on section 3 topics 1 – 9