Educational systems change: From mandates to conversations

That school change is necessary is commonly agreed
upon.
Mandated reforms with little or no user involvement were
characteristic of many change efforts, but to date
those efforts have
not brought forth results that are substantial and
far reaching
enough to truly turn the education system into one
that serves the
learners needs. The education system is certainly an
integral part of
any community and, as such, a community development
affair. Still,
when school change is attempted, the communication
that needs to
happen, when the users who form the community become
involved
in the design of the changes, seems to be at best an
afterthought.
Teachers experiences with design conversation for
educational
systems design are the core of the research question
for this study.
Communicative approaches such as design conversation
might gain
in importance as more sustainable and system-wide
approaches to
school change are searched for.

Autorentext
Helga Stokes has worked internationally in diverse educational settings and holds a doctorate in instructional systems and comparative international education. She has a professional interest in educational systems change through collaborative initiatives.

Klappentext
That school change is necessary is commonly agreed upon. Mandated reforms with little or no user involvement were characteristic of many change efforts, but to date those efforts have not brought forth results that are substantial and far reaching enough to truly turn the education system into one that serves the learners' needs. The education system is certainly an integral part of any community and, as such, a community development affair. Still, when school change is attempted, the communication that needs to happen, when the users who form the community become involved in the design of the changes, seems to be at best an afterthought. Teachers' experiences with design conversation for educational systems design are the core of the research question for this study. Communicative approaches such as design conversation might gain in importance as more sustainable and system-wide approaches to school change are searched for.