Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, the participants will learn how to plan projects involving systemic and/or practice change in education settings. They will learn to use systems thinking and practice theory as lenses into organizational practices and find the most effective and sustainable ways to improve those practices. In addition, they will learn how to apply modern project management practices in planning the project as a group.

After completing the course, the student will

- explain the importance of systems thinking when planning and implementing educational change initiatives.
- apply the systemic design approach in planning and implementing educational change initiatives.
- apply practice theory in mapping the practice arrangements related to a specific educational change initiative.
- apply standard project planning methods in planning educational change initiatives

Content (course unit)

• Systems thinking for educational change initiatives
• Systemic design approach in educational change initiatives
• Theory of practice architectures (practice theory)
• Planning an educational change initiative in small groups
• Stakeholder mapping
• Standard project planning methods

Prerequisites (course unit)

None

Further information (course unit)

None

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The students name and explain the core concepts of systems thinking, systemic design approach, practice theory and project planning and management. They are able to use basic project planning and management methods to plan an educational change initiative in a group. The students give and receive feedback related to educational change initiative, collaborate with others in planning the change initiative and take responsibility for their own work.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The students apply systems thinking and practice theory in mapping the organizational practices that affect an educational change initiative. They apply systemic design approach in planning the educational change initiative. They apply project planning and management methods in a well-justified way to plan an effective educational change initiative in a group. The students give and receive constructive and relevant feedback related to educational change initiative, collaborate with others in planning the change initiative and take responsibility for their own work.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The students apply systems thinking and practice theory in mapping the organizational practices that affect an educational change initiative. They base their map of organizational practices on a detailed study of the organizational reality, stakeholder positions and the mental models involved in the practices. They apply systemic design approach effectively in planning the educational change initiative. They apply project planning and management methods in a well-justified way to plan a realistic effective educational change initiative in a group. Their project plan shows careful reflection and use of relevant information sources and research literature. The students give and receive constructive and relevant feedback related to educational change initiative, collaborate with others in planning the change initiative and takes responsibility for their own work. The students show commitment to supporting the professional development their group and others on the course.

Location and time

Bi-weekly MS Teams online meetings:
Wed 23.10.2024 16.00-18.00
Wed 06.11.2024 16.00-18.00
Wed 20.11.2024 16.00-18.00
Wed 04.12.2024 16.00-18.00

Other meetings and tutorials as agreed with small teams and individual participants.

Assessment methods and criteria

25% Active participation in the online seminars
50% Project work in a small team (incl. presentation, report and peer feedback)
25% Individual work (report)

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

ONLINE

Learning materials

Teaching material will be provided via TUNI Moodle platform (https://moodle.tuni.fi)

Student workload

20 hours of active participation in and preparing for online seminars and tutorials (MS Teams)
60 hours of project work in a small team
55 hours of self-study and reporting