Improving educational change agents’ efficacy in science, engineering, and mathematics education

Abstract

Although recent decades have seen increasing calls for fundamental change in the teaching of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM), efforts to more broadly propagate proven innovations have met with only modest success despite (i) numerous national reports calling for changes, (ii) considerable funding that has been invested in SEM education improvements, and (iii) the growing body of literature on the superior efficacy of many curricular innovations. This chapter suggests that SEM innovators, while expert in their fields, may need to thoughtfully consider research and literature on change, both within higher education and including broader work on organizational change. From a review of the literature on change in higher education, two particular challenges are identified: goal ambiguity and narrow focus of change initiatives. To address these challenges, the authors offer a conceptual framework for decisions that SEM educational change agents make as they design and implement their change initiatives. Within this framework, they offer options and combinations of options that change agents might consider. Given the breadth and complexity of the literature and challenges of change, SEM educational change agents might consider forming collaborations to which they would contribute their disciplinary expertise in one of the three research communities. They might team with individuals who bring requisite expertise from other research communities or with respect to individual and organizational change. Such partnerships might develop approaches that would concurrently address multiple foci. Collaborations that included expertise in individual and organizational change would also be better prepared to navigate complexities of institutional change.

Citation

Froyd, J., Beach, A., Henderson, C. and Finkelstein, N. (2008), "Improving educational change agents’ efficacy in science, engineering, and mathematics education", Hartman, H. (Ed.) Integrating the Sciences and Society: Challenges, Practices, and Potentials (Research in Social Problems and Public Policy, Vol. 16), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 227-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-1152(08)16009-4