Background
A team of Distance Education experts were consulted to develop a design for the Anytime Anywhere Open University (AAOU), a new autonomous distance learning institution (DLI). The team used a system approach which allowed them to focus on all aspects of the university, holistically, and address all the interrelated elements that are necessary for an efficient DLI.
The first phase of the design did an analysis of the social context and environment of AAOU to determine if there is a need for the university. The second phase focused on the major components of the system, interrelated elements, inputs, outputs and the transactional processes of each component within the organization.
This is the third and final phase of the proposed …show more content…
There are four types of system approaches namely; functional, interpretative, emancipatory, and postmodern. Although these approaches are somewhat different in their approach and solution to solving these complex problems, all four approaches main goal, however, is to “seek to discover the laws that govern the relationships between that world 's parts or sub-systems, so that knowledge of the behaviour of the system can be gained with a view to improving efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term adaptability and survival” (Rumble, 2004, para. 2). More importantly, using a system approach is essential when considering teaching and learning in a distance education (DE) environment Moore …show more content…
Additionally, by advertising the educational opportunities distance education affords, it will attract non-traditional adult students who may not be able to attend a traditional institution of higher education because of work and family obligations, but want to earn a post-secondary education, attain job related training and obtain the skills they need to stay competitive in the job market (Freidman, 1981). The student environment below also demonstrates the demands, needs, and the “interlocking structure of feedback… lead[ing] to a course of action which changes the state of the surrounding system and give rise to new information on which future decisions are based” (Forrester, 1968, p.
A team of Distance Education experts were consulted to develop a design for the Anytime Anywhere Open University (AAOU), a new autonomous distance learning institution (DLI). The team used a system approach which allowed them to focus on all aspects of the university, holistically, and address all the interrelated elements that are necessary for an efficient DLI.
The first phase of the design did an analysis of the social context and environment of AAOU to determine if there is a need for the university. The second phase focused on the major components of the system, interrelated elements, inputs, outputs and the transactional processes of each component within the organization.
This is the third and final phase of the proposed …show more content…
There are four types of system approaches namely; functional, interpretative, emancipatory, and postmodern. Although these approaches are somewhat different in their approach and solution to solving these complex problems, all four approaches main goal, however, is to “seek to discover the laws that govern the relationships between that world 's parts or sub-systems, so that knowledge of the behaviour of the system can be gained with a view to improving efficiency, effectiveness, and long-term adaptability and survival” (Rumble, 2004, para. 2). More importantly, using a system approach is essential when considering teaching and learning in a distance education (DE) environment Moore …show more content…
Additionally, by advertising the educational opportunities distance education affords, it will attract non-traditional adult students who may not be able to attend a traditional institution of higher education because of work and family obligations, but want to earn a post-secondary education, attain job related training and obtain the skills they need to stay competitive in the job market (Freidman, 1981). The student environment below also demonstrates the demands, needs, and the “interlocking structure of feedback… lead[ing] to a course of action which changes the state of the surrounding system and give rise to new information on which future decisions are based” (Forrester, 1968, p.