Some Final Thoughts

Systems theories are wonderful mind toys. It's great to play with these far off ideas of bifurcation points and feedback loops, but there are some basics to reinforce. First, we need to be careful about what traditionalists may call "systems" or "systems approach." Most systems approaches are linear and step-by-step. The flavor of systems that we're advocating here is not at all about linear approaches. Systems approaches as we define them are NOT about input-process-output models as some in the computer science field have suggested. Thus, we have a different meaning for systems theories then you may have previously understood. Systemic is also different from systematic… systematic is again a linear step-by-step process. Instead, must see systems through the social science lens, which has a much more liberatory framework, a framework that empowers front line users. Ultimately systems thinking is a tool that can sharpen your perspective when implementing e-learning in any context or culture. Looking at things systemically will be an invaluable tool as you work through the activities for this course.

I know this week was a lot of reading. I have two pieces of good news! The first is that this is roughly the longest module in terms of reading, so don’t panic! The second piece of good news is that due to all the reading you have done this week, there will not be any outside readings for this module. Instead, you will be asked to watch two videos linked in the discussion board post for this week, and then respond to a handful of questions once you are done watching them. Your only other activity is a short writing assignment on a systemic problem from outside the United States.