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

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

Video: Complexity
Reading: Specialisation Assessment Overview
Reading: A Preview of the Briefing Paper Assignment
Reading: Assessment Overview for Course 1: Analysing Complexity
Video: Defining Complexity as a Concept
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complexity and Energy Flows
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complex Systems
Reading: Glossary
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

Video: Complexity in the Non-Living World
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Cosmic Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Chemical Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Planetary Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complex Physical Systems
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

Video: Complex Adaptive Systems
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Dissipative Structures
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Cellular Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Complexity of Brains
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complex Ecosystems
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Adaptive Systems and Ecosystems
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

Video: Human Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Evolution of Language
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Social Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Linguistic Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complexity Wealth and Consumption
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Complex Cultural Systems
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

Video: The Breakdown of Complexity
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Breakdown of Stars and the Universe
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Breakdown of Organic Chemicals
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Breakdown of Species
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Breakdown of Societies
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: The Breakdown of Economies
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Fragility and Collapse
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

Video: The Anthropocene
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Measuring Sustainability in the Anthropocene
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Global Politics in the Anthropocene
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Population Health in the Anthropocene
Reading: Resources
Reading: Glossary
Video: Increasing Complexity and the Anthropocene
Reading: Glossary
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

FAQs

How It Works

Coursework

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

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Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.

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Creators

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.

Pricing

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Ratings and Reviews

Rated 4.8 out of 5 of 12 ratings

Great content! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The first module Evaluating problems from the specialization Solving Complex Problems is a great Introduction into the complexity. The course provide views on the complexity from different points of view, such as economy, medicine, biology, etc. The module has met my expectations. Anyone who is interested in complexity (and decision-making) should take this course.

Me gusto el curso. Una visión muy interesante acerca de porque aumenta la complejidad del ambiente que nos rodea aunque ello contradiga el segundo principio de la termodinámica.

enjoyed the complexity :)

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