Transformational Spaces: Educators discuss Map the System
Pictured: Judges and participants at Map the System 2019 Canadian Finals, hosted by Toronto Metropolitan University.
Title: Transformational Spaces: Educators discuss Map the System
Authors: McGowan, K., Calf Robe, L., Allan, L., Bray-Collins, E., Couture, M., Croft, S., Daling, A., Farahbakhsh, A., Grossman, S., Hassan, S., Heidebrecht, P., Helwig, N., Jackett, M., and Machado, J.
Article publication date: Aust 23, 2021
Overview: Transformational Spaces: Educators discuss Map the System is a collaborative article from educators across Canada involved in Map the System (MTS): a global competition which challenges post-secondary students to use a systems thinking approach to understand complex social and environmental issues. This article looks at the social impacts of MTS in Canada, identifying trends amongst the experiences of Canadian post-secondary institutions participating in MTS.
The paper begins by looking at the state of social innovation in post-secondary institutions, giving an overview of MTS, and providing a Canadian context. Next, the authors explore whether MTS acts as a driver for transformation and systems thinking on campuses. Finally, they also seek to identify lessons learned and find future ways to fulfill the third mission of post-secondary institutions - service to the broader community.
This study method is deemed unconventional, taking the form of a digital roundtable discussion consisting of 10 Canadian institutions’ experiences with MTS. It focuses on finding patterns and discontinuities rather than documenting individual institutions, allowing participants to engage in honest self-reflection. The authors identified various obstacles and trends through the digital roundtable, including the alignment of MTS with participating universities’ learning goals, interdisciplinary challenges, and the overall value of systems thinking.
Authors also offer a reflection on the impacts and implications of MTS in Canada on student learning, mobilizing change leaders, cross-campus collaborations, systems thinking on campuses, and the program’s impact on host institutions.
This collaborative article is written in partnership with educators from participating universities in the Map the System Canada program.
Access: This article was published on August 23, 2021, in the Social Enterprise Journal; the full abstract can be read here (external link, opens in new window) . For access to the full article, email jcourneya@torontomu.ca.
Map the System
Map the System (MTS) supports students in studying and researching a complex social or environmental issue through skill-building workshops and mentorship from faculty members and community leaders. Through the program, students identify an issue, develop their skills in critically understanding the components to the issue, and are guided through creating a report and visual map based on their learning. The program concludes with a virtual showcase where students present their work to the community of mentors that contributed their expertise.