Designing for Scale: How Relationships Shape Curriculum Change

• In Event: Roundtable Session 32
  In Roundtable Session: International Perspectives on Systemic Improvement

Abstract

This study explores how large scale innovations can achieve alignment between curricular components through interactions among various system actors. Eight successful large-scale curriculum innovation projects were analyzed. Six key themes emerged from interview and document analysis data. Three themes related to salient relationships -i.e. strategic partnerships with (local/national) organizations; identification of individuals acting as linking pins; teacher involvement in design. Three other themes pertained to the relationships’ maintenance -i.e. visible presence; aligning goals; acknowledging the complex and interpersonal nature of relationships. Findings suggest that attending to relationships (professional and personal; strategic and unplanned; formal and informal) should be a key consideration in shaping the process of designing large scale curriculum innovations, and offer examples of how this has been accomplished.

Authors

• Natalie Nicole Pareja Roblin, Ghent University

• Gemma Corbalan, The Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development

• Susan McKenney, Universiteit Twente

• Nienke Nieveen, SLO - The Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development

• Jan J. Van Den Akker, SLO, The Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development