TRAINING TEAM
Dr. Diana M. Fisher
Education: Bachelors degree in mathematics from the University of Texas, El Paso, master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Montana, a graduate certificate in System Dynamics from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and a Ph.D. in System Science from Portland State University. She has taken numerous courses in computer science at Oregon State University.
Experience: Teacher of mathematics for 30+ years, computer programming (Pascal, then C++/Java) and System Dynamics Modeling for 20 years, at the secondary school level. She has taught mathematics and SD modeling courses at the university level and has taught summer workshops for teachers in System Dynamics Modeling and in computer programming.
She provided a NASA sponsored, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workshop entitled “Modeling, Analysis and Simulation in Mathematics Using System Dynamics” (2008) and a two-week MODSym (Modeling and Simulation) course (2013), both for secondary school mathematics teachers and both in Langley, Virginia.
Dr. Fisher has written and directed two National Science Foundation grants. The first grant was entitled Cross-Curricular Systems Thinking and Dynamics Using STELLA (CC-STADUS) 1993–1996, and was awarded exemplary status in 1996 and extended for a year (1996–1997). The second grant was entitled Cross-Curricular Systems: Training and In-service (CC-SUSTAIN) 1997–2001. In each of these grants secondary school teachers from the disciplines of math, science, and social science were trained in the design of system models and wrote curriculum to support the models they constructed during the three-week summer training.
CC Modeling System Publications
Dr. Fisher has published:
- Lessons in Mathematics: A Dynamic Approach (2001) which is still in print and which has been translated into Spanish. Published by isee systems, inc (www.iseesystems.com).
- Modeling Dynamic Systems: Lessons for a First Course (2005, third edition in 2011), also still in print, which has been translated into Japanese. Published by isee systems, inc (www.iseesystems.com).
- “Everybody Thinking Differently:” K-12 is a Leverage Point. (2011). System Dynamics Review, 27, (4): 394-411.
- Reorganizing Algebraic Thinking: An Introduction to Dynamic System Modeling. The Mathematics Enthusiast, 14(1).
She also co-authored three textbooks in computer programming (in the 1980s) published by Computer Science Press.
Dr. Fisher created the three sequential online System Dynamics modeling courses for mathematics and science instructors that are highlighted on this website. She has given presentations and workshops at the International System Dynamics Conference (1994–2018) and at the K-12 Systems Thinking and Dynamic Modeling Conference (1994–2018). She has also presented at the NCTM (National Council Teachers of Math) conferences, the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) conference (2018), NECC (National Education Computing) conferences (1992, 1997, 2006), Technology in Collegiate Mathematics Conference (1991), Society of Women Engineers Conference (1991), among others.
Recognition: Recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the System Dynamics Society (2011). Recipient of the Barry Richmond Scholarship (conferred by Pegasus Communication, 2007). First place co-winner of Intel’s Innovations in Teaching Award (1996). Winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching for the state of Oregon (1995). Presented plenary papers in 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2011 at the International System Dynamics Conference. Member of Pu Mu Epsilon (math honor society) and Alpha Lambda Delta (women’s honor society).