Jingwei Viola Liu
Systemic Improvement Indicator A
Indicator A: Lead purposeful change to maximize the achievement of learning goals through the appropriate use of technology and media-rich resources.
Artifact:
Artifact & Course Description:
Course Title
GADS 5547: Advanced Curriculum
Course Description
The aim of this course was to address critical issues in curriculum research. The course covered needs assessments, curriculum implementation and change, and curriculum management. Additional topics include mapping and audit, instructional models, and curriculum evaluation.
Project Description
This is based on a scenario assignment that asked: If you became a new curriculum director, how would you lead change to improve the use of technology for the achievement of learning goals? The artifact is a curriculum entry plan which responds to this scenario. The response is tailored to the Weston Public School District in Massachusetts. The curriculum entry plan has the following components:
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The convening of a curriculum assessment committee
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A work timeline
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Communication questions that can be addressed at every stage of concern
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A communication plan with seven stages of concern, and
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A seven stage implementation plan.
The overall goal of the plan is to update the curriculum, because it has become outdated, having been based on the ADDIE model for instructional design. The school district went down in rank because of this, but the situation provides an opportunity to leverage media-rich technology in the upgrade to this curriculum.
Reflection
This project allowed me to learn how to effect change in a purposeful way in an actual large educational organization like a school district. I realized that improving the educational environment so that students could better achieve learning goals through technology and media-rich sources would require a timeline with many stages. Though leadership like this provides opportunity to improve technology and learning, it is always challenging to implement such large-scale change.
The stages and planning skills I learned from creating this artifact are immensely practical. They promote not only involving the right people to design the change, but creating a timeline, and preparing communication strategies at each stage of the change. Without this strong, purposeful leadership, an upgrade to curriculum could be compromised. The leadership component is critical to its success.
References
Pahl, C. (2003). Managing evolution and change in web-based teaching and learning environments. Computers & Education, 40(2), 99-114.
Owen, P. S., & Demb, A. (2004). Change dynamics and leadership in technology implementation. The Journal of Higher Education, 75(6), 636-666.