Course Description
Individual and collective meanings of change, theory, and practice of organizational change and development in a variety of educational settings.
Athena Title
Theory and Practice Ed Change
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in LLOD 8200E
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The student will be able to identify themes which have shaped the practice and study of school change and educational improvement. The student will be able to identify sources of educational change. The student will be able to identify and describe factors affecting the use of innovation. The student will be able to describe and explain the dynamics of the change process in a variety of educational settings. The student will be able to recognize and describe the effect of multiple perspectives and realities on the content and process of change. The student will be able to describe and explain assumptions and understandings about the content of change and the change process. The student will be able to apply change theory to the development of a plan for initiation and implementation of an educational innovation. The student will be able to examine future trends in educational change theory and research.
Topical Outline
1. Identification of themes in educational change a. Technological b. Political c. Cultural d. Psychological 2. The content of educational change a. Sources of change b. Change in practice 1. materials 2. approaches 3. beliefs 3. The process of educational change a. Initiation b. Implementation c. Continuation d. Outcome 4. Factors affecting educational change a. Existence of and access to innovations b. Advocacy c. Policy d. Funding e. Organizational orientation f. Characteristics of the innovation g. Characteristics of the implementers h. External factors 5. Implications for practice a. Relevance, readiness, and resources b. Emerging themes in successful practice 1. Vision-building 2. Evolutionary planning 3. empowerment 4. staff development 5. monitoring c. Multiple perspectives and roles 6. Planning and implementing change a. Planning and coping with change 1. stages of change 2. change models: rational and nonrational approaches 3. role of change agent: developing a plan for change b. Why change fails 7. Future of educational change: movement from a. Single, monolithic solution to alternative, multiple solutions b. Focus on innovation to focus on organization c. Solo endeavors to alliances d. Top down initiation to bottom up to both
Syllabus
Public CV