This article describes a new approach, employing a combination of Positioning Theory and Semantic Polarities, that educational psychologists can use to develop and facilitate change in organisations and groups. Resistance to change can be seen as reflecting a lack of the language that the members of an organisation need to participate effectively…

Over the last several hundred years, local and national educational systems have evolved from relatively simple systems to incredibly complex, interdependent, policy-laden structures, to which many question their value, effectiveness, and direction they are headed. System Dynamics is a field of analysis used to guide policy and system design in…

This paper reviews the long attempt to transform teacher education in Thailand. Although a brief summary of educational systems and models of teacher preparation from 1892 to 1973 has been provided, the prime focus of the paper is on presenting changes in teacher education from 1974 to the present day, against the backdrop of key political and…

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders are at great risk for long-term negative outcomes. Researchers and practitioners alike acknowledge the need for evidence-based, preventive, and early intervention strategies. Accordingly, in this chapter an expanded view of prevention is presented as a series of data driven decisions to guide…

Educational change is a process occurring through time, a systemic and dynamic phenomenon in which every action leads to reactions in related areas of the system, and a multidimensional phenomenon requiring examination from the perspective of several disciplines. The success of an innovation depends on how the change process is managed, how the…

A case study of a consultation is presented that illustrates how two theories concerning organizational change and systems analysis were applied to a small, informal organization. Systematic intervention with small, less structured groups is advocated. (Author)

It is important for all Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) members to understand the ways society is changing as people evolve deeper into the information age, and to recognize that these changes require a change in paradigm for education and training systems to be most effective in meeting the needs of individuals…

Any effort to change a complex social system should begin by constructing models and simulations of the problem and its social context. These will increase the likelihood of long-term success, decrease the chance of unexpected negative side effects, and help conserve scarce national resources. Models may be of three types: (1) prose models--which…

A sociotechnical systems model used by John Brown University is described that is useful for analyzing the complexities of change in an organization and for describing the many elements involved in change. (Author/MLW)

A model of organizational analysis and renewal specifically designed for community colleges was developed to take into account internal functioning as well as the demands of external constituencies. The model is based on three elements: differentiation, referring both to the division of labor and the attitudes and subcultures that result from that…

This guide is the first of three documents that make up a Professional Development Package for Educational Systems Design. Together, the documents constitute an integrated package designed to help educators and others accomplish specific purposes relative to a communitywide systems design effort. The orientation guide is ideally used in a 1-day…

This paper presents thoughts resulting from review of proposals by state developmental disabilities authorities, submitted to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, that were designs for change initiatives in self-determination systems. These reflections on the use of service money and the provision of supports to people with developmental…

Because schools must operate in a changing environment, educators must manage change whether they wish to or not. Administrators must plan accordingly, and the best plans arise from a solid theoretical base. This book provides that base, by drawing on systems theory to develop effective approaches to strategic and operational planning in…

A program based on instructional systems technology was developed at Canadore College as a means of devising the optimal learning experience for each individual student. The systems approach is used to solve educational problems through a process of analysis, synthesis, modeling, and simulation, based on the LOGOS (Language for Optimizing…

This guide is the second of three documents that make up a Professional Development Package for Educational Systems Design. The intended audience for this guide is a leadership group empowered to provide leadership, policy direction, and support for a design effort. This group may consist of the educational leadership in a community in cooperation…