Based on the assumption that educators can adopt new patterns of organization and management to improve the quality of decision and change in education, this paper attempts to make decision theory and small group process theory relevant to practical decision situations confronting educational managers. Included are (1) a discussion of the…

A study was made of a method to solve the problem of information transmission to teachers and administrators in local schools. The common feedback loop was analyzed, and information theory was applied to the problems of noise. To provide effective communication, the educational linking institution needs to meet three requirements. These…

The full texts of the five major papers presented at the Singapore seminar comprise the body of this conference report. The seminar was jointly sponsored by the Academy for Educational Development (AED) and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization's (SEAMEO) Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH): its…

This paper explores the potential of systems analysis for the educational manager. It contains a review of systems concepts with comments on current and proper practice. An application model of systems analysis in an organizational context is provided to foster rational decisionmaking and increased skill in problem finding and solving. The…

Discusses the importance of innovating educational systems such that the new structures serve all the functions served by the structure being replaced, as well as serving either new ones or the old ones more efficiently, or both. (JM)

Student success was the motivation for evolving an individual project-based course into a project-centric curriculum. A one semester project was first extended across a sequence of three interrelated courses tied together through their focus on the success of small team projects that spanned those courses. This sequence was then targeted as the…

Although the role of the supervisor in education is seriously being challenged by complicated social forces, and the traditional method of simply observing or inspecting classroom performance has lacked guiding conceptual frameworks, the solution does not lie in the election of supervisory representatives or committees, but rather in an intensive…

This field guide provides a look into education in relation to a concept that has already been established in science, business and therapy. This book will encourage and educate readers about systemic thinking through examples and ideas pertinent to education and its reform. Following a Foreword (Michael Fullan) and Introduction (Blane Despres),…

To meet public scrutiny and increased demands for quality public education, schools must plan. Developing legitimate plans depends on the ability to recognize the patterns that guide current practice and uncover those that will create change. Educators need to understand the planning concepts that have helped business meet new challenges. To bring…

In this paper, the authors describe (1) the role of the organizational specialist in trying to establish and maintain vertical and horizontal lines of communication in organizations; (2) two case studies of organizational development (Kent and Eugene); (3) the values of creativity, work, and sharing that guide the authors; (4) the general systems…

Results of a comparative case study of four states (Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Texas) revealed the existence of identifiable sociopolitical systems (policy domains), at the state level, for determining teacher education standards. State systems for the governance of teacher education are described with regard to participants and how…

Community colleges traditionally have been a nexus for transitions to and from the workforce. This article examines horizontal and vertical workforce transitions and how a global economy and the need to train new subpopulations of future workers will cause community colleges to approach their roles in workforce training differently. There are too…

Student data are gaining increased attention in education, spurred by accountability policies such as those contained in the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Student data are useful for informing classroom practice, and user-friendly technologies for organizing and accessing data are enabling access by all teachers. In this study, we…

The author raises questions in analyses of educational policy issues and suggests possible answers to them. The questions concern the nature of changes in the educational system from a given proposed policy change, the magnitude of such change, and the length of time needed to secure the anticipated magnitude of change. Competency-based education…

This pamphlet blueprints a step-by-step process of curriculum change, while it is not a pendantic discussion of the process. It also reflects a philosophy of change. It is meant to do two things: 1) to specify the kinds of decisions that must be made to achieve meaningful change; and, 2) to provide acceptable tools to carry out the tasks. Section…