Theoretical Background

Chapter III

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

            The person’s development is affected by various factors. The most influential factor is the environment which commonly constitutes the family and the school. Home, the direct environment, is the major molder of a child. But as a kid grows older, its grip on the child’s development loosens. And along with the modernization, the tie between family members disentangles and as a result the influences in the family lessen. School is the setting next to family that affects the individual’s development. This is where most of the developing years of a person are spent. This plays a large part of his/her maturity. Being an immediate environment, its rules and regulations, teachers, faculty and staff have a direct effect on the individual.

Ecological Systems Theory           

            According to Urie Bronfenbrenner’s () Ecological Systems theory, the varied systems of the environment and the interrelationships among the systems shape a child’s development. It states that the environment as well as the child’s own biology shape his/her development. This theory is newly renamed “Bioecological Systems theory” to highlight the child’s own biology as the prime environment fueling his/her development.

            Bronfenbrenner’s () theory defines complex parts of the environment wherein each part have an effect on the person’s development. The interaction between the systems of the environment fuels and steers his/her development. Bronfenbrenner’s systems of the environment are the following: the Microsystems, mesosystem, exosystem, and the macrosystem.

            In UTrie Bronfenbrenner’s () Ecological Systems Theory, the microsystem is consist of the activities and interactions on the child’s immediate surroundings and contains the structures that have direct contact to the child. Structures in this system include the family, school and neighborhood. At this level, relationships have impact in two directions - both away from the child and toward the child. The interaction of structures within a layer and interactions of structures between layers is the key to this theory of Ecological Systems. The mesosystem is the layer that provides the relationships among the entities involved in the child’s microsystem. The exosystem defines the larger social system in which the child does not function directly. These are the social institutions which affect the child indirectly. And the macrosystem may be considered the outermost layer in the child’s environment. While not being a specific framework, this layer is comprised of cultural values, customs, and laws. The effects of larger principles defined by the macrosystem have a cascading influence throughout the interactions of all other layers.

Theoretical Framework

            Figure 1 explains the theory of Urie Bronfenbrenner (). His Ecological Systems theory states that the environment affects the individual. The environment refers to the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem and macrosystem. The environment affects the individuals growth, his principles and beliefs.

Conceptual Framework

On the various environments mentioned before-hand, the study focus only on the schools. The schools which are the second immediate environment are governed by their mission and vision. Educational institutions employ exemplary mentors to engrave its foreseen characteristics to their students. The rules and regulations formulated are favorable or will even promote their goals.   

These rules and regulations and the educators’ approach in handling the students would dictate the ambiance of the university they’re in. And this setting would have a wide influence on the students’ lives, specifically their stand on situations. This could even enhance or change their paradigm about the outside world. This is where the educational institutions play a huge role in the individual’s development.

Institutions should focus on developing the intellectual capacity, social and political awareness, sense of responsibility, and well- roundedness of their students. They should not just hand them diplomas but institutions should educate their students. Students should be able to acquire some learning from the institutions. Learning in textbook definition is a change in behavior because of practice or experience. 

In Bronfenbrenner's () theory, the school is part of the microsystem which affects the individual directly. As shown in Figure 2, schools affect or influence their students depending on their mission- vision or their goals as an institution. 

Operational Framework

            The University of the Philippines is an exceptional state university for it promotes freedom and democracy. UP, according to Murray Bartlett (), is an “abode of scholarship” producing individuals known for their field of expertise. The University of the Philippines Cebu College aims to promote excellent undergraduate and graduate courses to address the quality of life of the students. As shown in the diagram (Figure 3), the university molds the students to be critical thinkers, socially and politically involved, patriotic, and well- rounded.