Educational Systems Theory

Property: Segregation

Definition:

"Educational system segregation is (maintenance of) independence under system environmental change." (p. 57)

Comments:

When considering segregation it is important to remember that independence is components which do not have channels to them. These componenets may or may not have channels from them.

Illustration:

Examples:

Example 1- An example of segregation takes place in a classroom with several students including one student with disabilities, and one teacher. The student with disabilities is ignored by the teacher and the other students while the affect relation "guides the learning of another" is taking place. This is at time 1, and the student with disabilities is independent from the teacher and the other students. At time 2, several new students move into the area and come into the classroom. The new students are integrated into the classroom and are not ignored by the teacher and other students. The student with disabilities is still ignored by the teacher and other students, and is considered independent. A graphic representation of this example might look like Figure 1. S1 represents the teacher, S2 represents the student with disabilities, S3, S4, and S5 represent other students at time 1, and S6 and S7 represent the new students at time 2.

Example 2 - Another example of segregation also takes place in a classroom with a teacher, several students, and a computer. The computer is not used by the teacher or the students for the affect relation "guides the learning of another." This is at time 1, and the computer is independent form the teacher and students. At time 2, new educational software programs are brought into the classroom. The new software is also not used by the teacher or students, and is considered independent. A graphic representation of this might look like Figure 2. S1 represents the teacher, S3, S4, and S5 represent the students, S2 represents the computer, and S6 and S7 represent the educational software.

Related Terms:

passive dependence

active dependence

interdependence

wholeness

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Hypotheses Containing the Property: Segregation

59. If educational system disconnectivity is greater than some value, then segregation increases.

137. If educational system feedout is greater than some value and compatibility is less than some value, then segregation is less than some value.

176. If educational system state steadiness is less than some value, then segregation is less than some value and integration is less than some value and homeostasis is less than some value.

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