The lack of synergy amongst diverse elements within the closed system, the lack of control and the lack of output within the system may have contributed to the marginal results.
Identify and discuss instances of an aggregate mentality at work in this case.
Aggregate mentality is first witnessed amongst the subgroups recommendations within the task force whereby no new recommendations to the closed system are made. Whereas one group recommends the taking up of total quality management and another recommends a return to the basics, no effort towards the overhaul of the system is made.
Would Karen today describer her school or school system as relatively open or relatively closed? Why? Classify the new model as open or closed. Why?
Karen’s new school model can be termed as a relatively open system. According to.an open school system interacts with its environment constantly and is made up of five elementary elements namely feedback, inputs, output, the environment and the transformation process. From the proposed new system structure the teachers who become guides, motivators, advisers and managers deviate from their traditional role of content disseminators as they interact with their learning environment in a whole new way. In their new role the guides interact in the system. The new system is equally interactive by involving videodisks, interactive computers, projects, learning labs among others. The latter system is a classic closed system which is diametrically opposite to Karen’s school system. A closed system is one that has limited interaction with other systems outside the environment and as such Karen’s model is an open system.
Discuss the feedback mechanisms that exist in the new school model.
In the new model, guides who are the teachers, motivators and managers are the major feedback points for the students. Other than the recording each student’s unique educational goals, feedback is obtained by equally matching the goals to educational resources made by the guides. Additionally, by this matching, students can be clustered and their progress monitored.
Does the new school model appear to invite chaos or amplify variety? Discuss why.
The new model is bound to augment student performance due to a shift from the traditional mode of instruction which is non interactive. However, chaos may ensue due to the lack of proper and clear metrics to measure performance of both the guides and the students as is the case with a closed system.
In what ways does the new school model apply the following systems concepts?
Input-throughput-output
Synergy
Leading part and emergence
Dynamic homeostasis
Equifinality
Reaching the end using numerous means such as changing the teachers roles to motivators and advisors helps the students pass through their developmental goals.
Negentropy
Order is achieved by grouping the students in clusters while monitoring their progress.
Karen's group has proposed an extensive revision of the traditional approach to the operation of schools. If her group is to function as a lead part of the school system in the effort to deal with its problems, what steps might it take to move the district toward their vision? What might help her group function as a lead part in the effort? What might impede her group's effectiveness? How might impedances be dealt with?
Karen should involve the relevant stakeholders and encourage them by presenting the gains made from their new approach. By presenting their documented feedbacks and student achievements through the four developmental stages, her team can take lead in the change process. However, the faced challenges such as difficulties in measuring the students’ progress other than using the developmental stages will prove to be challenging. By presenting suggestions of improving the four developmental stages within K–12 and also by proposing better suggestions of managing the student’s clusters, the impedances will be resolved.
