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AN EXAMINATION OF THE CURRICULUM CHANGE PROCESS
Abstract
This study examines the change process and the individuals involved. The literature suggests the key factors in examining change are the implementation of a new program, the attitudes of consumers of the new program, and the product of the new program in terms of intended program outcomes. The change examined in this study is the mandated system-wide adoption of a curriculum innovation. The results of the examination of the data show that although records indicate the level of implementation to be quite high, that level may be questionable due to the nature of the measurement of that implementation. The attitudes of teachers were consistently poor regarding the new program. The intended outcome of improved student performance was not produced. On the average, students progressed less with the new program than without it. An examination of the process of the change itself revealed the violation of several important procedures--no needs assessment, no faculty input and no flexibility within the program. These violations led to a questionable level of implementation coupled with poor teacher attitudes. The result was a lack of product, that is, no increase in student achievement. Although both training and follow-up were provided and the program itself was appropriate to this particular setting, the factors of implementation and attitudes were unsuccessful as was the product itself. This study supports the change literature recommending that teacher attitude be a primary focus in the change process through early needs assessment, decision-making input and flexible program utilization. Through confirmation of the current change literature, this study should add to a better understanding of the change process itself in hopes that a comprehensive change theory may eventually evolve.
Subject Area
Curricula|Teaching
Recommended Citation
WAKEFIELD, SANDRA MCKINNON, "AN EXAMINATION OF THE CURRICULUM CHANGE PROCESS" (1983). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8423839.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8423839