Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Problems and practices associated with innovation and implementation including the nature of change in the educational context, the roles of teachers, administrators, change agents, and evaluators.

COURSE DETAILS:

This is the Course Outline for the CI CO29 cohort with Faculty Sponsor: Natalia Gajdamaschko

Meeting Dates:         
May 28/29 & June 11/12 
June 25/26 & July 9/10
July 23/24

Meeting Times:         
Friday: 4:30-9:00
Saturday: 8:30-4:30

Location: Due to COVID-19 classes will be facilitated online.

COURSE RATIONALE:
Why do some programs and change initiatives fail while others blossom and succeed? Why do some program initiatives encounter conflict and resistance while others are more openly endorsed, embraced and supported? Why is it that changes and new innovations are frequently met with resistance? What organizational skills, approaches and techniques do program coordinators, facilitators and change agents utilize to successfully implement a program? What activities and tasks do we as educators in various leadership roles need to consider implementing in order to build and sustain program capacity? What role does assessment and evaluation play in the successful implementation of a program? What role does negotiation play in the implementation of programs? These are just a few of the many questions that will be discussed and explored during this course and that will increase our understanding of the complexities involved whenever we are tasked with the responsibility of implementing a program in an organization. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Planning lays the foundation for effective program implementation. The three principle planning processes (traditional; pragmatic, radical) that guide program implementation will be explored. These processes or viewpoints set the context and not only influence a program’s overall design but heavily dictate what changes can be realistically considered by leaders and program participants. Caffarella & Daffron’s Interactive Model of Program Planning in, Planning Programs for Adult Learners, will be used as an organizational framework in order to more fully appreciate the intricacies of planning for the effective implementation of a program change or new initiative. 
This course will highlight not only the critically important components and best practices associated with program implementation but many of the challenges, problems, and potential issues associated with the implementation of educational programs in post-secondary institutional environments.
If planning helps lay the foundation for the effective implementation of programs, then the leader acts as the critically important catalyst that facilitates change management initiatives. The topic of leadership must therefore be explored to some extent. McCalman, Paton & Siebert’s publication entitled, Change Management, will be used to gain a deeper understanding of change management strategies. Program implementation entails not only acting as a change agent but also involves possessing the ability to discern the ‘lay of the land’ in order to effectively manage and lead change, which often entails negotiation within organizational socio-cultural contexts as well as the formative development of structural mechanisms (e.g. mission, goals, policies), the recognition of power dynamics, both the awareness and navigation of organizational politics, the making of ethical decisions and the effective management of people combined with the leadership of the overall program or institution.

COURSE FORMAT:
This course is designed to foster reflection, critical thinking skills, research skills, interview skills, collaborative learning, inquiry and active participation. Class sessions will involve small and large group discussions as well as informal and formal presentations. Several guest speakers will be visiting us to share real-life insights, each reflecting the three principle planning processes.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING: