A new debate strategy which may be used in judging academic debates is the application of policy systems analysis. In the policy systems analysis approach, the negative team must advocate a policy system just as the affirmative team does, providing a comparison for the debate judge. The major difference between systems analysis and traditional…

The educational system is characterized by a vector matrix differential equation, and it is shown that the concepts of modern control theory such as observability, controllability, and optimal control can give deeper insight into the behavior of the educational system. The identification of the system dynamics and the definition of a realistic…

This publication defines and illustrates approximately 80 terms and concepts that are crucial to understanding the Educational Management Project, a comprehensive inservice program for educational administrators that was developed by the Tucson Public Schools. Annotations for the individual terms vary in length from approximately 30 to 350 words…

The two papers in this document focus on general systems theory. In her paper, Linda Lederman discusses the emergence and evolution of general systems theory, defines its central concepts, and draws some conclusions regarding the nature of the theory and its value as an epistemology. Don Rogers, in his paper, relates some of the important features…

Twelve publications in the ERIC system were reexamined and more detailed annotations written for this booklet. The approaches to vandalism prevention cited range from a U.S. Senate committee attempting to measure the cost of school vandalism nationwide to measures taken by individual school systems. (MLF)

This paper identifies key variables in both the design and implementation of educational planning models and presents a conceptual framework that meaningfully relates these variables. Purpose of the conceptual framework is to provide educational researchers and practitioners with a "cognitive map" of significant variables associated with…

There are four major functions involved in the management of any human enterprise: planning, organizing, executing, and controlling. Educators would add an additional function--evaluation--although it is generally subsumed under control. The control function has been neglected in education. Control means formative (inprocess) evaluation plus…

This booklet focuses on needs assessment, a process for identifying and defining valid curriculum, instructional, and management objectives. It also presents a means for establishing controls over curriculum development at the local level, whether it be a school district or an individual school. Part 1 explains the (a) fundamentals, (b) rationale,…

This study determines the effect of the Instructional Development Institute (IDI) on the skills of a group of District of Columbia public school instruction personnel in the use of the systems approach to instructional development. The following null hypotheses were tested: (a) IDI participants will not show significant gains in developing initial…

The purpose of this study was to compare the overall effectiveness of a vocational education system designed specifically for a culturally disadvantaged population (in this case the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service (JEVS) System) with a model-based system incorporating the techniques and procedures normally employed by vocational…

This bibliography suggests a number of introductory readings that will enable regional and urban planners to understand the systems approach. The main focus of the research study that gave rise to this review of the literature was on establishing ways in which decisionmakers in regional planning could be helped in making their choices. The…

The project of developing, demonstrating, and evaluating a systems approach for general college chemistry, general psychology, and developmental English was undertaken by Meramec Community College (Missouri). This report includes a chapter on the project philosophy, which hypothesizes that the maximization of instructional methods increases the…

This second of three related volumes outlines the present status and advancements of the Washington state community college system. Currently, the number of people served by this sytem exceeds the combined total of all other public higher education institutions in the state; enrollment has doubled in the last four years, and tripled in the past…

ERIC abstracts on educational planning, announced in RIE through December 1970, are presented. The key terms used in compiling this collection are "critical path method,""educational planning,""operations research," and "program budgeting." The following information is presented for each document: Author, title, place of publication, publisher,…

Between May 1967 and June 1970, the Houston Independent School District in consortium with 14 others contracted with USOE to coordinate the development of an organic curriculum. The project's purpose was to create a climate for change, while interpreting for Houston secondary schools the objectives of a plan that would be: relevant, based on…