### **The Iceberg Model in Systems Thinking**
Use the Iceberg Model to move from surface-level observations (often of events) to a deeper systemic understanding.
### **Structure of the Iceberg Model:**
1. **Events** (Tip of the Iceberg): What just happened?
- Observable outcomes or incidents.
- Example: A student fails a test.
2. **Patterns/Trends** (Below the Surface): What’s been happening over time?
- Recognising recurring events or trajectories.
- Example: The student has failed multiple tests this semester.
3. **Systemic Structures** (Deeper Level): What are the forces or structures that create those patterns?
- Rules, policies, processes, relationships.
- Example: The curriculum is rigid, teaching style doesn’t suit diverse learners, lack of support systems.
4. **Mental Models** (Deepest Level): What beliefs, values, and assumptions underpin the system?
- Often implicit, shaping how systems are built and maintained.
- Example: “Smart students don’t need help,” or “One size fits all in education.”
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