Notes

1.3.2 System Approach to Education

Good Morning, so for today we’ll be talking about the System Approach to Education, a while ago Kelly
had talked about the system approach itself but this time we will be talking about the relation of system
approach to education, its steps and importance.

Considering that

 Education - is a complex organization of technical, social, managerial, and institutional sub-systems.

 The system approach to education - focuses first on the learner and then on course content,
learning experiences, and effective media and instructional strategies. (And later we will also be
tackling about the steps involved in Systems Approach to education that will maximize our
learning in here.)
For a brief summary of input these are the
 Input – (People, Resources, and Information) giving teaching-learning system. Or in short these
are the materials, people and etc that will distribute the knowledge. And
 Output – (People whose performance or ideas have Improved in some desired way).

Structure of Educational System

INPUTS PROCESS OUTPUT

PUPIL FORMAL OR ATTAINMENT OF
ADMINISTRATION INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL
TEACHERS
EDUCATION OBJECTIVES
MATERIAL
FINANCE PROCESS

FEEDBACK

1. Before we proceed to the objectives of systems approach to education, can someone Give me
an example of Inputs in System Approach and why are they labeled as inputs?

Next are the

Objectives of Systems Approach to Education

These are the goals that are set when it comes to using this approach in education, what will be the
result.

 Identifying and stating the goals to be achieved

 Identifying the processes, methods, techniques, and strategies that may be most relevant to
achieving the predetermined goals
  Building up a theoretical foundation justifying the relevance of these processes to achieving the
goals
 Determining specific interactions visualized existing among various other components of inputs
 Specifying the various kinds of controls needed in the total system at different points

In relating this type of approach in education, these objectives will help the input to be more
relevant and effective to the output and will bring positive feedback. Generally, before we make
an action or decision, we first must identify what will be our goal in the end. and when we plan
something more specifically in education, we must look for something effective that will give a
good result to the students or to the output. By means of planning types of formal and informal
educational activity, these must be relevant or have a theoretical model to justify and explain
the issues or positive results that wanted to be achieve in the end.

Next,

Steps of the System Approach

This approach focuses on the investigation, analysis and design of the entire system, rather than to pay
attention on the components or the parts. It also emphasizes to view a problem in its totality, taking into
consideration all the facts and all the tangled parameters.

Also a systems approach attempts to maximize the quality of the output by transforming the input into a
course in such a way as to facilitate the optimal assimilation of knowledge and skills to take place during
the process of learning. The systems approach generally consists of the following steps:

1. Analysis of the existing situation

2. Setting up goals for the desired situation
3. Defining mechanisms to evaluate the achievement of goals
4. Generating alternative solutions
5. Choosing the best possible solution through cost-benefit analysis
6. Detailing the design of the system
7. Outlining the monitoring mechanisms for the system
8. Working out for introducing the solution

This steps are ways of identifying the system approach in education, simply identifying the problems
and solutions, analyzing the situation overall, and designing an effective system of education. It tries
to understand how the different components interact with each other and how they could be brought
into appropriate interrelationships for getting the best possible solution to the existing problem which is
the goal of it.
Steps involved in using System Approach for Curriculum Design

 Pre-assessment of the pupil’s entry behavior: The students coming to join the course will have
a strong influence on the course to be designed by the range of their educational backgrounds,
interests, knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding the particular course material. Previous
knowledge and any general misconceptions need to be focused on in the design of the
course.

 Content to be taught and instructional material to be used: The consideration is also required
for the broad thrust of the course content. The sort of people for whom the course is trying
to be developed and also about the instruction material to be used should also be
considered.

 Desirable attitude and aptitude of pupils are to be considered: Generally, there are minimum
standards of admission as per the requirements of a particular course, but this may not be followed
constantly.

 Formulation of objectives or learning outcomes: The objectives and learning outcomes of the
course or curriculum aspect should effort to combine the new skills, knowledge, and attitudes that
the students are supposed to acquire. They could be formulated by the teaching staff, by an
examining or professional body, or by some combination of these and other sources.

 Cost factor: By the cost-benefit analysis, the best possible solution is to be selected. (Cost-benefit
analysis – estimating the strengths and weaknesses of alternative)

2. Before we proceed to the elements used during process stage may I ask again What is the
Importance of Entry Behavioral Pre-Assessment to the students especially to the Curriculum?

The elements used during process stage are as follows:

(a) Deciding suitable teaching strategies and methods

 Selection of appropriate instructional media and material: Having specified the objectives and
learning outcomes , the course designer is able to easily select appropriate teaching and
learning methods through which there is a logical chance of learning outcomes to be
achieved.
 Formulation of teaching-learning scheme or timetable: A scheme of comprehensive
programmes/timetable for the working of the system in relation to its parameters and stipulated
objectives is being formulated. The time to be given to the students for achieving learning
 outcomes is decided
 Selection of appropriate evaluation procedures: The evaluation procedure to be used to assess
the achievements of learners is also decided beforehand
(b) Systems operation and implementation: The subsequent element is the concrete
implementation and execution of the course. This includes involving overall arrangements,
speed, implementation of the selected strategies of teaching, using suitable teaching aids and
materials, and making it certain that each aspect of the course is running with maximum
possible efficiency.

© Evaluation of learning outcomes and objectives: The collective outcome of the previous stages is
that students are occupied in learning which is intended to improve their knowledge, skills, and attitudes,
taking into consideration the needs and experience of the individual learners. The effectiveness of
the pre-planning and next step of action can be measured by evaluating the performances of the
students through formative or/and summative assessments. These assessments must be closely
linked to the course objectives and learning outcomes.

Considering that a while ago we’ve talked about the steps involved using the system approach for
curriculum design and now this stage simply emphasizes the process of developing an effective
curriculum design.

Using the System Approach in Practice

- In executing the systems approach, it is of vital importance to understand that, although the
decisions taken at every stage are always affected by decisions taken at earlier stages, which
may require some of the previous decisions to be changed. It is also important to recognize that
various stages of system and processing are not the only ones that are possible, and a decision
once taken, can always be reconsidered and changed if required.

- The systems approach will not resolve significant problems at once, nor will it ever solve all of
them. It does not matter how widely skillful is the systems team, this approach is just an
instrument. It will never offer us anything for nothing. All it can do is help to achieve orderly,
timely, and rational designs and decisions.

Importance of System Approach for Education

 It provides a framework for planning, decision-making, controlling, and problem- solving.

 It throws light on the dynamic nature of management.
 It provides an integrated focus on the efforts of institutions.
 It helps to view the institution as a whole and not as parts.
 It helps the manager in identifying the critical subsystems and their interaction with each other.
  It helps the institution to improve.
 It helps the school administration and management to bring effectiveness and efficiency in their
functioning.
 It helps in a systematic planning of education and institution.
 It assists in optimum utilization of resources.
 It helps in improving examination and evaluation system.
 The guidance services could be maintained, controlled, and improvised.
 Designing, controlling, and improving non-formal and adult education system.
 It improves the quality of education.
 In improving the in-service as well as pre-service teacher training programme.

For the last question, can someone Identify the importance of System Approach in Education.