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The second phase of the Applied Research Proposal is to outline possible theoretical framework(s) through which the research will be examined, and an initial draft of the literature review.
To provide context, my draft research question is as follows:
“How might a systems-based digital learning strategy address future challenges and uncertainties in higher education in Ontario, particularly those which impact United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?”
Theoretical Framework
The proposed research is guided by the following theoretical framework(s): Systems theory.
Where reductionist analysis views phenomena as isolated from their environments, systems theory takes the opposite approach, viewing phenomena and their environments as interconnected and interacting with one another…
(Montuori, 2011)
Systems theory is a transdisciplinary approach to examining phenomena as complex, dynamic, interconnected, and interdependent systems that exist within broader and more complex contexts. This view of systems of systems – a metasystem, if you will – is a departure from reductionist analysis, a mode of critical analysis that seeks to understand a whole by understanding its component parts. Where reductionist analysis views phenomena as isolated from their environments, systems theory takes the opposite approach, viewing phenomena and their environments as interconnected and interacting with one another (Montuori, 2011).
Vanderstraaten (2023) suggests that Systems Theory is still a viable tool for studying education, as it affords opportunities to “broaden the horizon of educational research” (2023, p. 11), viewing education as situated within complex social, political, and environmental contexts. For this reason, Systems Theory is a framework very well suited to the proposed research.
Literature Review
The idea of “systems” had been explored from a philosophical point of view for centuries, but was not developed into a formal theory until the late 1930s and the post-World War II era by Ludwig von Bertalanffy (1972). First published in 1968, General System Theory summarized over three decades of work to propose a theory that had its roots in biology, but sought to establish a more generalized trans-disciplinary approach to examining phenomena not as isolated and individual, but interdependent and forming complex relationships between elements of larger systems (Vanderstraeten, 2023).
In 1972, The Limits to Growth was published by a group of scientists at MIT, where they used systems thinking and computer modelling to explore possible future outcomes of an economic system based on infinite growth on a planet with finite resources (Turner, 2012). This early work showed the application of Systems Theory to complex problems that touched on social, technological, economic, environmental, and political dimensions. It was also an early example of Futures methodology, designed not to predict the future, but to provide insight and a framework for understanding possible uncertainties.
Strategic planning should be seen as a cyclical and ongoing process, rather than a static activity…
Porzecanski et al. (2022)
While The Limits to Growth was widely criticized (Turner, 2012), much of that criticism was guided by a misunderstanding that the models were fixed predictions of future events, and when viewed through the lens of history, they produced outcomes that were “wrong.” Porzecanski et al. (2022) articulate that strategic planning should be seen as a cyclical and ongoing process, rather than a static activity. Because the inputs of systems are dynamic and constantly changing, so too are their outputs. Therefore, constant re-evaluation of the components of a system are necessary to maintain the integrity and relevance of any strategic value that comes out of planning exercises.
As many experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pivot to emergency remote teaching was the best effort by countless dedicated professionals, but showed that more could be done to view education as a system within a more complex global context, and to create more resilient approaches that include e-learning strategies (Ferri et al., 2020). The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework through which complex global systems might be viewed (United Nations, 2015). However, much of the work toward fulfilling the SDG objectives takes place in isolated contexts, and a more integrated and interdependent view of the SDGs is needed (Wahl & Capra, 2019).
This research aims to explore how a more systems-focused integrated digital learning strategies might produce positive impacts toward several SDG objectives, beyond SDG4 – Quality Education.
This literature review is ongoing.
References
Ferri, F., Grifoni, P., & Guzzo, T. (2020). Online learning and emergency remote teaching: Opportunities and challenges in emergency situations. Societies 2020, Vol. 10, Page 86, 10(4), 86. https://doi.org/10.3390/SOC10040086
Montuori, A. (2011). Systems Approach. In Systems Theory. ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/systems-theory
Porzecanski, A. L., Sterling, E. J., Copsey, J. A., Appleton, M. R., Barborak, J. R., Bruyere, B. L., Bynum, N., Farmer, K. H., Finchum, R., Rakotobe, D., Stanoss, R. B., & Valdés-Velásquez, A. (2022). A systems framework for planning and evaluating capacity development in conservation: recommendations for practitioners. Oryx, 56(5), 671–680. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060532100154X
Turner, G. M. (2012). The Limits to Growth. In I. Spellerberg, D. S. Fogel, S. E. Fredericks, & L. M. Butler Harrington (Eds.), Berkshire Encyclopedia of Sustainability (Vol. 6, pp. 233–236). Berkshire. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX1747600061/GVRL?u=yorku_main&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=2989de74
United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Vanderstraeten, R. (2023). Systems theory approaches to researching educational organizations. Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Education. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.1885
Von Bertalanffy, L. (1972). The history and status of general systems theory. Academy of Management Journal, 15(4), 407–426. https://doi.org/10.5465/255139
Wahl, D. C., & Capra, F. (2019, November 25). A systems approach to the SDGs & the need to reframe SDG8. Age of Awareness [on Medium]. https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/a-systems-approach-to-the-sdgs-the-need-to-reframe-sdg8-6c4853118f82
Systems theory is a great choice for your work Darren. You’ve done a great job providing the background and evolution of the theory and a nice connection to your proposed research – you might want to shift the evolution piece on the theory out of the lit review and into the TF section and contain it all there, but see what makes the most sense as you pull together the various subsections for the lit review. No concerns at this point – it’s strong and solid writing.
Thank you so much for your feedback, Deb. I did originally have more of the evolution of the theory in the TF section, but thought it was maybe getting a little too long and unfocused, so I shifted it into my Lit review. I can definitely move it back, which will allow the lit review to be more focused on other precedents for the research I plan on pursuing. So much more to read and summarize!