Fostering Systems Thinking in Biological Education Using the Example of Plant Hormones

Abstract

Systems thinking is an increasingly recognized paradigm in education in both natural and social sciences, a particular focus being, naturally, in biology. This article argues that plant biology, and in particular, plant hormonal signaling, provides highly illustrative models for learning and teaching in a systems paradigm, because it offers examples of highly complex networks, ranging from the molecular-to ecosystem-scale, and in addition lends itself to the use of real-life biological objects.