System Approach in Education

 02-10-2016                                         Unit-5

SYSTEMS APPROACH

 Systems Approach is a problem-solving process in which the problem solver engages in series of steps – taking at solving a particular identified educational problem. Broadly speaking, systems approach comprises of two major parts, namely: (I) system analysis, and (ii) system synthesis.  

By system analysis we are speaking of a process whereby a given problem is broken down into bits. It is at this stage that the actual problem is identified and analyzed with a view of setting goals or objectives. Technically speaking, system analysis consists of “Mission analysis, functional analysis, task analysis and consideration for methods and means” (Kaufman, 1968).

 Mission analysis, on the other hand refers to the determination of the end product of the system analysis. It includes the various steps of identifying an overall “mission objective”.

 Functional Analysis: As is expected, it is closely related to mission analysis. It consists of breaking down of functions earlier identified under mission analysis with a view of grouping them into various components that would make for a functional mission profile.  

Functional analysis is the attempt used to leave out impossibilities and concentrate on “possible” options. Since functional analysis centers on “specifics” rather than “general”, it naturally leads to “task analysis”.  Task analysis is concerned with the determination of the sub-skills that are required to learn an identified task. The “task” has to be analyzed to make it easy to identify the best strategy that could be adopted to accomplish the objective.

The remaining system analysis step is called “method-means analysis”. This step is important in the sense that at every stage of system analysis, there is need to consider “alternatives” that are considered best in terms of speed and accuracy in the attainment of set objectives.

In system synthesis, available data from system analysis stage are utilized to select solution strategies, implementing solution strategies and the evaluation of the total system in the environment for which they were designed. The discussion on systems approach can be summarized in a model form shown below:

In the context of education, system is a unit as a whole incorporating all its aspects and parts, namely, pupils, teachers, curriculum, content and evaluation of instructional objectives. The teaching-learning process is viewed as communication and control taking place between the components of a system. In this case, the system is composed of a teacher, a student and a program of instruction, all in a particular pattern of interaction.

The System Approach focuses first upon the learner and then course content, learning experiences and effective media and instructional strategies. Such a system incorporates within itself the capability of providing continuous self-correction and improvement. It is concerned with all elements of instruction including media, including hardware and software. Its purpose is to ensure that the components of the organic whole will be available with the proper characteristics at the proper time to contribute to the total system fulfilling the objectives.

In the systems approach to instruction, the teacher has to plan completely the utilization of selected resource material and the classroom activities. The teacher should have a good overall view of the subject, know his/her limitations, know all about his/her pupils and the individual differences in their learning capacities and plan accordingly. The system approach involves continuous evaluation of learning outcomes and utilization of knowledge gained by analysis of results of evaluation to suitably modify the plan of approach to achieve the stated objectives.

Major steps in the systems approach in education are:

1. Formulating of specific instructional objectives to be achieved and defining instructional goals,
2. Deciding appropriate media to achieve these goals,
3. Defining learner characteristics and requirements,
4. Selecting appropriate methods suitable for effective learning to take place,
5. Selecting appropriate learning experiences from available alternatives,
6. Selecting appropriate materials and tools required,
7. Assigning appropriate personal roles for teachers, students and supporting staff,
8. Implementing the program,
9. Evaluating the outcome in terms of original objectives measured in student performance and   revising to improve efficiency of the system to improve students’ learning.

ADVANTAGES OF SYSTEMS APPROACH

i. Systems approach helps to identify the suitability of the resource material to achieve the specific goal.

ii. Technological advance could be used to provide integration of machines, media and people for attaining the defined goal.

iii. It helps to assess the resource needs, their sources and facilities in relation to quantities, time and other factors.

iv. It permits an orderly introduction of components demonstrated to be required for systems success in terms of student learning.

v. It avoids rigidity in plan of action as continuous evaluation affords desired beneficial changes to be made.

LIMITATIONS OF SYSTEMS APPROACH

I. Resistance to change. Old ways are difficult to erase. There is always resistance to any new method or approach.

ii. Involves hard work. Systems approach requires hard and continuous work on the part of school personnel. Some are not prepared for the extra load.

iii. Lack of understanding. Teachers and administrators are still not familiar with systems approach. Though it has been successfully implemented industry, it has still to make headway in education.

CONCLUSION: - From the above discussion, it is understood that system approach is a systematic attempt to coordinate all aspects of a problem towards specific objectives. In education, this means planned and organized use of all available learning resources.

Implication/ Association Of system approaches to educational technology

The systems approach to educational technology and the systems approach to the design and analysis of teaching/learning situations is the basis of the great majority of modern educational technology-related developments

In general systems theory, a system is any collection of interrelated parts that together constitute a larger whole. These component parts, or elements of the system are intimately linked with one another, either directly or indirectly, and any change in one or more elements may affect the overall performance of the system, either beneficially or adversely. In order of instruction in educational technology

HARDWARE APPROACH:

The hardware approach is based on the application of engineering principles for developing electro-mechanical equipment for instructional purposes. Motion pictures, tape recorders, television, teaching machines, computers are called educational hardware.

Hardware approach mechanizes the process of teaching so that teachers would be able to deal with more students with less expenditure in educating them.

Human knowledge has three aspects:

§  Preservation,

§  Transmission and

§  Development.

The history of preservation of the knowledge is believed to exist since the printing machines started. The knowledge is preserved with these machines in the form of books which are shelved in the libraries, tape recorders and films.

The second aspect of human knowledge is its transmission. A teacher can impart knowledge himself to his pupils. Now days, transmission of the knowledge is supported by machine like mike, radio and television. With these, thousands of pupils enjoy this home-delivery of such benefits.

The third aspect of human knowledge is its development. For this aspect, provisions are made for research work. In the research programs, the main function is the collection and analysis of data. For this purpose, presently the researcher uses the electronic machines and computers. Hence, all the three aspects of knowledge allow the use of machines. In short, the teaching process has been mechanized. The mechanization of teaching process is termed as the Hardware Approach.

SOFTWARE APPROACH:

The software approach used the principles of psychology for building in the learners a complex repertory of knowledge or modifying his behavior. It originates from behavioral sciences and their applied aspects concerning psychology of learning. Psychology of learning provides solid technology for bringing desirable behavioral changes in the pupils and thus serves the cause of education of laying down definite instructional procedure, teaching behavior and behavior modification devices. The pioneering work in software approach was done by Skinner and other behaviorists. The programs which such a technology produces are often called software. Software Approach is also termed as Instructional Technology or Teaching Technology or Behavioral Technology. Newspapers, books, magazines, educational games, flash cards may also form part of software. Software approach is characterized by task analysis, writing precise objectives, selection of appropriate learning strategies, immediate reinforcement of responses and constant evaluation.

Hence Software Approach is concerned with teaching objectives in behavioral terms, principles of teaching, methods of teaching, reinforcement of instructional system, feedback, reviews and evaluation. Software approach tries to develop all the three basic components of technology, i.e. Input, Process and Output.

HARDWARE & SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES

Hardware Technology	Software Technology
1. Hardware technology has its origin in physical sciences and applied engineering.	1. Software technology has its origin in behavioral sciences and their applied aspects concerning psychology of learning
2. Here we are more concerned with the production and utilization of audio visual aid material and sophisticated instruments and mass media for helping teacher and learners in their task.	2. Here we try to make use of psychology of learning for the production and utilization of software techniques and materials in terms of learning material, teaching-learning strategies and other devices for smoothening the task of teaching learning.
3. It tries to adopt product-oriented approach. What is produced through software technology in the shape of teaching-learning material and strategy in being utilized by the hardware instruments and gadgets for effective teaching learning?	3. It tries to adopt a process-oriented technique or approach for the production of teaching-learning material and strategies. The material produced here is made available for being used by the hardware application.
4. It is based on the concept of service meaning hereby that it provides services in the field of education much in the same way as provided by telephone, electric heater, bulb etc. in the sphere of our day to day life. In this sense hardware technology clearly stands for making use of technology in education.	4. Software technology does not provide direct services to its users as provided by hardware technology and applied engineering. It helps in the production of software material being used by the hardware applications and gadgets for delivering their service to the users i.e. teachers and learners.
5. As examples of the appliances and gadgets being used in hardware technology service we can name radio, television, tape recorder, video, slides and film projectors, teaching machines and computer etc.	5. As examples of the material produced through software technology we can name, programmed learning material teaching learning strategy on psychology of learning (put into practice in the shape of charts, pictures, models, slides filmstrips, audio and video cassettes, software packages etc.)
6. Hardware technology needs the services of software technology for its use and functioning. It can’t go without the aid of software technology e.g. computer hardware in the shape of a machine like device is of no use if it does not make use of software services both for its operation as a machine and its multi-dimensional utilities. The use of application and utility software is in fact must for taking any service from the hardware technology of the computer.	6. Software technology proves most useful and productive in the case if it is assisted and made into use by the hardware applications and gadgets. However, it can go alone for delivering its services to the users without calling aid from the hardware technology i.e. you can make use of programmed learning material a graph a text, etc. directly for the individualized as well as group instructions.
7. Hardware technology has its mass appeal and utilization. It can contribute a lot in handing over the educational benefits to masses with greater case and economy.	7. Software technology has no such wide application and appeal to masses as found in the case of hardware appliances like radio, telephone, computer application, etc.
8. Hardware technology has resulted in improving the efficiency of educational, means and reducing the cost of education. A teacher may handle a big class with the help of hardware appliances like microphone, slide and film projectors etc.	8. Software technology also works for increasing the efficiency of the teachers as well as learning. However, it lags behind in the task of improving efficiency and reducing the cost of education.

References:

https://www.google.com.pk/search?q=LIMITATIONS+OF+SYSTEMS+APPROACH

https://wikieducator.org/Educational_Technology_as_Systems_Approach