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The word systems come from the Greek word “synistanai” which means “to bring together or combine. A systems approach is based upon the idea that a component's parts are best understood in their relationship to each other and to other components, rather than in isolation. All complex systems are comprised of many different interacting components. Within each component are many different interacting parts. Not only must the parts comprising one component’s parts work together but also interact with the parts of the other components in order for the system to perform its function or purpose.
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For example, a computer’s operating system must be able to perform many basic tasks such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping a record of information stored in files, controlling devices such as printers and scanners and many other functions. |
When developing something as complex as a computer’s operating system, it is necessary to understand not only the programming language used to develop the operating system, but how each individual part of the operating system interacts with each other and with the other programs and hardware installed on the computer. When one part of a computer’s operating system or a program fails to interact properly with another part of the operating system or program, a problem results called a “bug.” This is why developers of operating systems and computer programs have to keep offering updates to their programs when it is found that a function of a computer’s program will not work or not interact properly with another program. When developing a computer program, it is necessary to understand how each part of a program interacts with other parts of the program and with other computer programs. The Learning Wizard (TLW) uses a systems approach to college reading and study skills. The major components of a college reading and study skills course are study skills, vocabulary skills and comprehension skills. These three components interact concurrently to help a student obtain, retain and use the information in a college course. In TLW each of these major components explained in a section. Each section is divided in parts called units. The units in TLW explain how the skill developed in the unit interacts and is required to interact with the skills developed in other units in order to develop the ability to successfully learn to use the information given in a college course.
For example, when a reading comprehension skill such as locating a topic and its supporting details is required, the student needs concurrent strategies of (1) getting into the zone to concentrate on obtaining this information, (2) reading rate to use to obtain it, (3) retention and recall strategies and (4) predicting what kind of test questions can be asked. A specific college reading and study skill cannot be learned in isolation from other college reading and study skills.
Because of the emphasis of critical reading and problem solving in college courses, each unit in the vocabulary and comprehension skills section explains how the skill developed in each unit is required for critical thinking and problem solving.
TLW applies the four attributes of the systems approach to developing the techniques required to successfully learn the information in a college course.
- Specialization – The components of a system are divided into parts that permit focusing on individual parts. Each unit in TLW focuses on developing a specific study skill, vocabulary skill, or comprehension skill.
- Grouping – Because the individual parts in a complex system are specialized, it requires placing individual parts that share a common feature into groups or subgroups. The TLW has three sections: study skills, vocabulary skills and comprehension skills. Each of these sections is divided into units.
- Coordination – How each part in each group interacts with each other as well as parts in other groups must be understood. The TLW explains the study skills, vocabulary skills and comprehension skills are required to be used together when obtaining, retaining and using facts, concepts, principles in order to do critical thinking and problem solving.
- Emergent properties – In any complex system it is how the multiple parts interact or work together to perform a task. The system is greater than the sum of its parts. TLW explains how study skills, vocabulary skills and comprehension skills are required to be used concurrently to obtain, retain and use the information in a college course.
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