Systems Analysis and Design Reflection

 Systems Thinking: From Twitter to Teacher Teams

I just wrapped up a Systems Analysis and Design course.  We went deep into how huge systems like Twitter, YouTube, and Uber work, and then we got hands-on with tools like Microsoft Lists and PowerApps. As an instructional coach, I kept thinking, "How can I bring this back to school?" Turns out, a lot of those big-picture concepts translate way better than I expected.

What were the 1-2 most important things you learned in this course? How will these things be part of your future work?  

Honestly, the biggest takeaways for me were understanding the importance of process mapping and just grasping the whole idea of systems. We're so used to focusing on individual pieces in education, but this course really drove home how everything is connected. It's like, you can't just fix one thing without looking at how it affects everything else. Process mapping was especially a helpful exercise. It's like drawing a roadmap for anything. Whether it’s a student intervention plan, a professional development setup, or just getting a new initiative off the ground, having a clear visual of the steps makes everything so much easier to follow. It helps us find those spots where things get stuck, and it helps everyone stay on the same page. A flowchart isn't just a diagram. It's a way to keep everyone organized and make sure we’re all working consistently.

What are 1-2 things you need to learn next to build upon what you learned in this course? How will you learn these things?

I need to get better at testing and implementing these systems in a school setting. It’s one thing to design something cool on paper, but it’s another to get everyone on board and make sure it actually works. This is an undertaking that is easier said than done in a school where most of the employees are focused on their individual spaces, which they should be. I'm thinking we need to set up a legit beta testing team for each initiative or project – get teachers, admins, support staff (maybe even students?) involved. And we need to have clear protocols for how we’re going to keep these systems running smoothly. We currently have a document called our SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) that house all of our building’s systems. Storing our new processes in here seems like a natural step and include regularly scheduled check-ins. I’m going to pick the brains of our admin, who have a lot of experience at other schools, and see how they’ve operated before. Then, we can use a system they are used to and I can hopefully add some of the knowledge I’ve gained from here. 

What are 1-2 Ideas that you can implement if you create an app that you learned about in the course? How have you already used these in your educational context or how do you plan to use these in the future?  

Our MTSS system needs a lot of work. Right now, data’s all over the place, and the process is a work in progress. But after this course, I’m thinking we could totally build a system with an actual process map and perhaps even an app (or Google Form) to help manage it. It would have a process map accessible when teachers are entering data and a central database for all our MTSS data, standardized data collection forms, etc.. It would make everything so much more streamlined, and it would keep everyone on the same page. Plus, it would make it way easier to track student progress and make data-driven decisions. It would help everyone in the school follow the same process, and make the MTSS process easier to track. I think this could be a real game-changer for our school.

Honestly, the whole “systems” approach has been a bit very helpful. Whether you’re building a social media platform or trying to improve student support, the principles are the same: keep it clear, keep it organized, and always be ready to tweak things as you go.