The document discusses techniques for effective learning and application development through formal modeling and conversations. It describes a course design approach using three types of learning conversations: Why, What, and How. These conversations help establish aspirations, expectations, anxieties and the order and process for collaboratively learning systems modeling techniques and tools. The document outlines an initial modeling process involving identifying the focal system and mapping relationships between context systems and the focal system. It also provides examples of modeling questions and representing the models using formal notations like directed graphs and Context+ maps. Challenges encountered and basic evaluation questions are discussed.