Spring 2025 - EDUC 813 G031
Organizational Theory and Analyses (3)
Class Number: 4573
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
-
Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 5:00–7:50 p.m.
Surrey
-
Instructor:
Laurie Anderson
lauriea@sfu.ca
1 778 782-5074
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
This course critically examines organizations in which educational leaders work from different theoretical perspectives and in light of research evidence. It also critiques several past and current reform initiatives, and explores specific topics in-depth. A central and pervasive question of the course concerns organizational purposes, especially with respect to learning, and how these purposes are served by organizational structures and processes.
COURSE DETAILS:
This course explores the structures, processes, and cultures of educational organizations in (mostly but not exclusively) K-12 education. Course work will reveal the tensions, pressures, and overall complexities of organizations. Students will investigate a range of models for interpreting organizations and apply these to a particular organization and issue of their choice. Imaginative pedagogies will be employed to increase meaning-making and engage learners emotionally with content.
Meeting Dates:
Course dates are January 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, February 5th, 12th, 26th, March 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, April 2nd and 9th.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
The course is designed to help students meet the following learning objectives:
* Understand different structures and processes shaping organizations
* Identify new and ongoing tensions and challenges in K-12 organizations
* Understand how organizations work within these tensions and challenges
* Analyze the potential benefits and drawbacks of various organizational theories
* Apply the insights from different organizational theories to educational organizational challenges
* Appreciate the complexity of organizations
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
The course text is The Role of Imagination in Understanding Leadership. Author is Nathan W. Harter, the publisher is Routledge (2024,, first addition. ISBN: 978-1-032-44985-2 (paperback edition). Students can borrow the book from the library but they may wish to buy their own paperback copy (see various online retailers for purchase). Students will need the text on the first night of the course.
ISBN: 978-1-032-44985-2
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.