Explores ways that colleges and universities can become learning communities in all of their dimensions. Discusses the five disciplines of the learning organization (personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking) and ways to adhere to these disciplines. Describes leadership roles and the importance of vision.…

The ecological systems approach to language ability and disability views language as context-dependent, integrates language content with other skills, and emphasizes higher level thinking. The emergence of the ecological systems view is described, and the ecological approach is compared with the more narrow approach traditionally found in school…

A systems perspective of adult literacy assessment stresses use of comprehensive, holistic strategies. For literacy methods, systems theory emphasizes the holistic nature of the adult in relation to the complex web of systems. Systems theory applied to materials reflects the plurality of literacies and the need for a variety of materials. (SK)

Discusses a graduate-level course in mariculture to help students synthesize what they have learned in traditional courses and apply that higher-level understanding in a systematic and explicit way in evaluating complex issues. (Author/CCM)

This chapter presents and analyzes current developments in the evolution of the instructional development model. First, basic definitions of general systems and instructional development model terms are provided, and the differing uses of the terms instructional development, instructional technology, and educational technology are considered. The…

While three models of the application of Piaget's theory to education have been identified, the Park School (Norwalk, Connecticut) adds a fourth. This method involves a systems approach that extends beyond curricula and derives teaching techniques and administrative practices from Piaget's view. The approach uses logical games and…

A study was conducted in Great Britain to review the means by which teachers of Further and Higher Education (FE/HE) keep in touch with (1) developments in their course area; (2) experimentation and innovation in curriculum design; (3) alternative teaching approaches; (4) learning resources; and (5) other sources of professional information.…

This overview of an introductory, graduate level course in instructional systems design taught at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville stresses the point that professors of instructional design need to utilize the concepts, principles, and procedures which they present in their courses. Special attention is given to the analysis, development,…

Five randomly selected experimental groups of twenty-four general college chemistry students participated in this study. Four of the five groups received a version of the systems approach treatment, which consisted of group orientation, individualized learning, small group seminars and unit tests. The fifth group was administered the traditional…

The first step in establishing an educational system is to assess the desired outcomes of the task and to state them as observable behaviors. The second step is to determine the optimal learning environment for the achievement of those goals. The final step is to set up a system of evaluating the quality of the instruction and the performance of…

As the element of government closest to direct taxpayer control, education is in deep crisis. Education must become more productive if only to maintain its present level of operation. Increasing productivity means getting the same results for less cost, getting better results for the same cost, or getting significantly better results for…

The special education training program at the University of Northern Iowa provides a systematically integrated program designed to develop professional personnel with the requisite competencies to (a) diagnose and teach; (b) organize and supervise programs; (c) evaluate instructional programs; and d) train professional educators to implement…

This monograph explores some implications of a new wave rooted in applications of industrial management to curriculum practice. It contains a "model" of a general strategy for evaluating and responding to proposals that particular managerial or instructional systems be adopted. Keyed to this model are specimen sets of questions for teachers,…

Describes a classroom activity to introduce students to pros and cons of recent bottle bill legislation which proposes restrictions on the sale of nonreturnable beverage containers. Flowcharts are used to analyze the problem in a systems format. (Author/AV)