PSM (CD) Teachers as Change Agents

1
PSM (CD)Teachers as Change Agents

• Professor Colin Marsh
• Curtin University of Technology
• Perth, Western Australia

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Session 1

• Introduction

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What is the curriculum?

• Content
• A set of materials
• A syllabus
• Outcomes statements
• Learning packages

4
What is curriculum change?

• Curriculum change is multi-dimensional and
  involves possible changes in goals, skills,
  philosophy and behaviour, but above all, change
  in practice.

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Who are change agents?

• School principals, vice principals, panel heads
• PSM (CD) teachers
• Teachers within the school
• Visiting teachers from other schools
• Specialists from universities
• Media personnel
• Professional associations

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Change agents

• interact directly (face-to-face with individuals
  or groups)
• communicate indirectly (via memos, newsletters,
  materials)

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When I am involved in change I feel like I am a

• coach
• guide
• director of a play
• potter
• person negotiating a swamp
• whitewater rafter
• person all at sea
• person going up a down escalator

I feel like I am a
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In any school the impact of different change
agents will vary. Give a rating of High (H)
Medium (M) Low (L) to the impact of the following
in your school in bringing about curriculum
change

• Principal
• Vice Principals
• Panel Heads
• PSM (CD) teacher(s)
• Very experienced teachers
• Parents
• School Foundation Chair

H M L
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Some myths about producing curriculum change

• All that is needed is a dynamic leader
• Change will only work if every teacher approves
  of it
• Change is a one-off, linear process
• Change will be accepted if arguments are logical
• Change is an event (and not a process)
• There is a set procedure for change which always
  works
• All that you need is a teacher proof curriculum
  and it will be implemented exactly as intended

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Two major elements of curriculum that can be
changed

• Learning Programs
• learning outcomes/objectives
• content
• teaching and learning strategies
• resources
• sequencing of learning
• learning locations
• modes of instruction
• assessment and evaluation

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• Learning Milieu (School Climate)
• culture of school
• administrative procedures
• leadership roles and responsibilities
• communication systems
• staff evaluations
• resource distribution
• document and statistic keeping
• approaches to monitoring performance

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Research on the dynamics of change

• Is uncertain Things never go completely as
  predicted
• Operates in phases When they are ready for a
  phase
• Is cyclical not linear
• Is composed of a mix of factors some you can
  control, some you cant
• Each change action sets off a chain of
  repercussions intended and unintended
• Change agent has to read the situation and
  match the best possible responses
• (Scott 1999)

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External factors that can affect curriculum change

• Politicians announcements
• Education Manpower Bureau frameworks
• Government allocation of resources
• High stakes testing and examinations
• Lobby groups
• Mass media