EDUC6034

Leading Educational Change

Faculty of Education and Arts School of Education

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Not available in 2014

Previously offered in 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004

The role of educational leaders in the complex area of change in all sectors of education will be explored through issues such as: analysing the change process, defining educational change, determining individual change, determining individual, group and organisational responses to change, implementing change, coping with resistance to change, and managing planned change.

Objectives

On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

(1) describe concepts, principles and research findings from the diffusion of innovations and the concerns-based perspective,
(2) demonstrate competence in the use of standard terminology from the diffusion and the concerns-based perspectives,
(3) explain and be able to use, at a novice level several of the established measures of change process variables,
(4) apply the two perspectives to case examples and ongoing change processes,
(5) design an implementation/assessment strategy for bringing about change within an educational setting,
(6) develop a diffusion/implementation plan using both the CBAM and Diffusion of Innovation methodologies.

Content

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of change processes and the roles of educational leaders in facilitating and managing these processes. The main problems in the study of change i.e. defining change, determining levels of change such as individual, group, organisational and societal, and evaluating outcomes of change will be explored. Causes of change, changing organisational culture, implementing change, managing planned change and resistance to change will be examined. Techniques for analysing change and measuring outcomes will be used and assessed.

Replacing Course(s)

Transition

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

Nil

Modes of Delivery

External Mode

Teaching Methods

Integrated Learning

Assessment Items

Other: (please specify)

A variety of written tasks will be set: (Note: Some components may be completed online via BLACKBOARD as set out in the course outline) (1) Case studies of change, 20% of assessment. Due approximately Week 5. Identify two educational changes with which you have been directly associated over the last two years and reflect on their impact. Details of this task are to be found in the course outline. (2) Online discussion of change issues, 30% of assessment. A variety of educational change issues will be explored through discussion online using Blackboard. Details of these discussions and the processes of assessment for this component will be provided online during the semester. (3) An implementation assessment study, or analysis of an attempt to spread an innovation: Due in draft form by week 12 for peer review, and completed (3,000 - 5,000 words) by end of semester. 50% of total assessment. This action research project will explore and analyse a change process, preferably at the student's place of work to demonstrate that skills, understandings and competencies developed in this course can be applied.

Contact Hours