Four Circles Model Essay

The Stages of Systemic Change by Beverly L. Anderson By analyzing where they are an the continuum of educational change, stakeholders can see where they still may need to go. At first I didn’t see the magnitude of the change. I thought if we just did better what we had always done, we would be OK. Then I realized we had to do something totally different, but I didn’t know what. Gradually we began trying some new approaches. One change led to another and another and another like dominos. I started to see what people meant by systemic change. A new energy and excitement surged among its as hope grew and the cloudy vision of what we wanted became clearer and clearer. -Principal of a restructuring high school Administrators across the United States are recognizing that the education system needs fundamental changes to keep pace with an increasingly complex global society. Yet, the deeper we get into the process of change, the more confused we can become. We need some sense of what to expect and what direction to take. Seeing the patterns of change can be difficult; stakeholders in a system tend to see change primarily from their own perspective. Often teachers may not understand what is seen by administrators and parents, nor do administrators or parents see change from a teacher’s perspective, or from each other’s. To give stakeholders an aerial view of the shifts occurring in educational systems, the matrix â€Å"A Continuum of Systemic Change† defines six developmental stages and six key elements of change (see fig. 1). A composite of experiences in systemic change from across the United States and at all levels of education, the matrix provides stakeholders with a common vantage point for communicating and making decisions about change. Stages of Systemic Change Six stages of change characterize the shift from a traditional educational system to one that emphasizes interconnectedness, active learning, shared decision making and higher levels of achievement for all students. Although Figure 1 displays the six developmental stages as linear and distinct, change is unlikely to follow a linear path. An education system will seldom be clearly at one of these stages but will usually experience â€Å"Brownian motion,† going back and forth from one stage to another on the path toward an ideal situation. The six stages are: Maintenance of the Old System: Educators focus on maintaining the system as originally designed. They do not recognize that the system is fundamentally out of sync with the conditions of today’s world. New knowledge about teaching, learning, and organizational structures has not been incorporated into the present structure. Awareness: Multiple stakeholders become aware that the current system is not working, as well as it should, but they are unclear about what is needed instead. Exploration: Educators and policymakers study and visit places that are trying new approaches. They try new ways of teaching and managing, generally in low-risk situations. Transition: The scales tip toward the new system; a critical number of opinion leaders and groups commit themselves to the new system and take more risks to make changes in crucial places. Emergence of New Infrastructure: Some elements of the system are operated in keeping with the desired new system. These new ways are generally accepted. Predominance of the New System: The more powerful elements of the system operate as defined by the new system. Key leaders begin envision even better systems. Key Elements to Change As schools. districts. and states move through the six developmental stages. six elements of the education system seem to be particularly important. Monitoring these six elements can help us understand an education system’s progress. Vision: The vision that people have of an education system and what it should accomplish must change in order for the system to change. Through the stages of development, the number of people from different groups who agree on the shape and purpose of the new system increases. Public and Political Support: As the vision develops and is translated into practice, the support of the public and of the political leadership at all levels of the system must grow. Such support involves a deepening understanding of the what and why of the changes needed. The inclusion of diverse populations appears to be critical in building support. Networking: Building networks that study, pilot, and support the new vision of the education system is essential in establishing lasting systemic change. These networks typically do not rely on the existing bureaucratic structure. They frequently use computers, newsletters, conferences, and personal communications to link people of similar roles across existing organizational lines. Teaching and Learning Changes: Teaching and learning based on the best available research on how people learn is at the core of the new system. Closely related is the perspective that all students need and can learn the higher-level skills of understanding, communication, problem solving. decision making, and teamwork. If changes do not occur in teaching and learning, all the other changes have little value. Administrative Roles and Responsibilities: To achieve change in the classroom, administrative roles and responsibilities need to shift at the school, district, and state levels from a hierarchical structure of control to one of support and shared decision making. Policy Alignment: State and local policy need to be aligned around the beliefs and practices of the new system, particularly in areas related to curriculum frameworks, instructional methods and materials, student assessment practices, resource allocation, and the inclusion of all types of students. Making simultaneous changes in all six elements requires conscious planning. The process is akin to remodeling a building while people are still using it; redesign and reconfiguration need to be carefully staged to keep the building functional. Using the Matrix The matrix â€Å"A Continuum of Systemic Change† is proving particularly valuable in three ways. Educators are using it to: 1. Develop a common language and conceptual picture of the processes and goals of change among diverse stakeholders. Once stakeholders can see the issues and perspectives of the others. hey are better positioned to take actions that will support and enhance others’ specific situations. One of the nation’s earliest and largest restructuring efforts, Re:Learning, used frameworks similar to this matrix to develop common understandings and to engage multiple stakeholders in discussions about the goals and strategies of systemic change. 2. Develop a strategic plan for moving forward on systemic change. Once systemic change is under way, people often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. A matrix such as this one can be used to specify what steps to take next. For example, state mathematics and science curriculum directors used the matrix at a national conference to analyze their own state’s progress on systemic change. Many found that they were moving along reasonably well with the vision, the policy realignment, and the shifts in administrative roles, but changes in classroom teaching were small, and public support was lagging. They realized these areas needed special attention if the full system was to change. 3. Develop an ongoing assessment process to support and encourage deep, quality change. The matrix can provide the basis for deciding the focus of an evaluation, the type of data to collect, and the modes of analysis and reporting. An organization funding changes in science instruction based its evaluation tool on the matrix. In another state, districts and communities used the matrix to evaluate their progress in redesigning arts education. For systemic change to occur, all aspects of the system must move forward. A physician doesn’t say, â€Å"Well, I guess I won’t worry too much about that heart problem. The rest of the body seems fine. † By adapting this matrix to their own systems, educators can help stakeholders rise above their singular viewpoints to a more comprehensive perspective of the changes occurring. By nurturing all aspects of the education system, we can bring about the systemic change that will transform education. Beverly L. Anderson is Executive Director of InSites, 1877 Broadway, Suite 405, Boulder, CO 80302. She formerly directed the Re:Learning systemic change initiative at the Education Commission of the States.

Has Social Media Caused Moral Decay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Has Social Media Caused Moral Decay - Essay Example One may ask what social media is or what it entails. There are different forms of social media for instance twitter, YouTube and Face book these are a few of the social media, which have greatly influenced the people in today,’s society (Wheeldon n.d). Recent research has shown that social media brings fresh blood to people’s lives. For instance, it provides a platform for people from all parts of the world to exchange ideas with this; people are able to enlarge their social circles. Although social media has both positive and negative impacts on people, it has made the world a better place to live in. The essay will bring out that social media is not responsible for the moral decay in today’s society it will bring out both negative and positive effects of social media in order to bring out the counter argument appropriately. Thesis statement Social media is to blame for the moral decay in the society. 1. Communication and socialization Social media has resulted to moral decay on different issues in today’s society. For instance, it has resulted to social isolation (Solari Communications, 2012). This is to say that people lack contact with people in normal life situation. In a work place, one may isolate him or herself from his or work mates thus creating a gap between them. People keep on staring at their smart phone even when around people they should socialize. Because of this, young people do not concentrate when being addressed by older people. This shows how young people have become disrespectful because of the use of social media. Recent research has shown that socially isolated people live a shorter life. When one is a socially isolated, you lose the ability to read ones facial expressions and social cues. Because of continues isolation and spending more time in social media, and aiming at creating more online friends, social media results to depression this is because people spent most of their time chatting with friends and strangers thus wasting the time they are supposed to sleep. This result to depression and one may be unproductive in his or her place of work. Research has shown that being on the screen for long hours affects the release of melatonin a sleep chemical thus making one to sleep for less hours thus resulting to depression (Neelamalar & Chitra, 2009). One feels more comfortable when communicating online than face-to-face. Social media also affects once communicating skills for instance, if one is always on social media he or she may never understand the verbal cues and facial expressions. This result to poor communication skills and one may never know how to communicate while in public. In addition, while chatting most young people do not use grammatically correct language. This affects their language especially in their academics. Constant use of social media has resulted to distractions. Many people are hurt while walking simply because of being constantly glued on their phones texti ng and chatting with friends. In addition, in the class students are distracted from what they are taught because they are on their social websites instead of listening to their teachers by doing so they fail to get the concepts they are supposed to (Wheeldon n.d). This results to poor performance among the students. Today young people seek for sex education in the social websites. Sexting refers to receiving sexually suggestive messages, videos, and photos through the social website. In today’s society, social media has become a leading sexual educator. This is because parents no longer teach their children about sex. Because of this, young people get wrong concepts about sex hence increase in moral decay among the young people. That is why nowadays there is increase in transmission of sexually transmitted

Research article the False Memory Syndrome Foundation Paper

Article the False Memory Syndrome Foundation - Research Paper Example Cases of parents being accused by their children for traumatic incidence that purportedly happened years back were on the rise. The foundation would not only seek to understand the reasons for the rise of False Memory Syndrome, which was causing a lot of agony to families but also help prevent the condition. Moreover, the foundation provided a platform where affected families would support each other cope with the terrible agony of the loss of their offspring and the distress of being falsely accused of sexual abuse. The false memory syndrome has caused a lot of harm to both the children, parents and society as a whole. The condition has forced children to abandon their parent resulting to pain to parents from losing their loved ones. Accusations that go public causes trauma and creates stigma that would never go away even after the accusation are concluded to be false. The syndrome has forced affected families to seek counseling (False Memory Syndrome Foundation,

No topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

No topic - Essay Example In the first place, the sender of the message was their third grade teacher, perceived as an authoritative figure – someone who effectively provides them with accurate information, knowledge and instructions. As an authority figure, the sender is perceived by the receivers of the message as credible, believable, truthful, and a role model. Since the student have known Jane Elliot as a competent teacher in their school, whatever message she relays are deemed acceptable to the students. In analyzing the receivers of the message, as the grade three students, one would deduce that they could be easily swayed to believe that blue-eyed people are the better people than brown-eyed people, especially when it was brought to their attention on the first day. With their young minds and ability to understand the issue at hand, these grade three students could easily accept as factual whatever information and instructions were fed to their minds by their teacher, who had been known to them as an authoritative figure when it comes to providing instructional information. Finally, the message was introduced appropriately by providing a background scenario where Jane Elliot first brought the subject of brotherhood. She effectively asked a question that solicited the needed response from the students. She asked: â€Å"is there anyone in this United States that we do not treat as our brothers?† (Frontline: The Daring Lesson); of which, a student replied: â€Å"Black people† (Frontline: The Daring Lesson).By introducing that the color of a person’s skin causes them to be treated differently, Jane Elliot effectively convinced the students that â€Å"it might be interesting to judge people today by the color of their eyes† (Frontline: The Daring Lesson). As such, the message that blue-eyed people are the better people than brown-eyed people (and vise versa) was easy to be relayed to the children and they responded quickly and completely because: (1)

Management in the 21st Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Management in the 21st Century - Essay Example It is evident that this is after the interactions between the public, universities, students and the private employer organizations on the theme of employability. The principle of potentiality is now a comparative indicator for university performance. The principle is also used to compile university league tables as an obligatory dimension for the justification of higher education. This helps the HRM’s to have the ability to expand out of the organizational habitat into the wider social body.1 The enquiry into the HRM’s ethics is boosted as the expansion occurs due to dissemination of the system of ethical values to a new set of stakeholders. The ethical values are based on employment and the possibility of work as a fundamental part of the meaning of students’ whole personal lives. How the HRM handles the younger generations has revealed the dynamic formation of an ideal ethos of work in an environment the HRM is culturally free from its normal organizations and constrains. It is apparent that in the sphere of employability HRM is unrestricted by the formal context governing an employment contract. Jones says that there is need for the transformation of the category of ‘ethics’ into that of ‘ethos’ to investigate HRM’s ethical apparatus in this new domain.2 Employability discourses approach the relation between work and subjectivity very differently. The demands of mechanical uniformity cease to be replaced by new forms of address inciting the audience to a dynamic personal ethical engagement with work and self, instead of bureaucratic obedience to impersonal rules. The emphasis on individual potentiality leads to basic orientation towards work as an opportunity for self-perfection and self-realization. By understanding ethos as a dynamic principle then HRM’s ethics is no longer a matter of static systems of rules. It

Week 14L discussion board Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Week 14L discussion board - Essay Example For instance, the bureaucratic structure makes it difficult to get things done fast and efficiently. More often than not, information processing stops at some structural levels until clearance is given. Such deficiencies occur due to inefficiencies in some of the information processing levels. For instance, an absentee manager would cap all the information passing through their desk until they are available. All organizations depending on information processing systems to provide services to people are our competitors. However, there has been a remarkable change in information processing system in our company for the last several years. Most notable, many operations have shifted from technical dependency to software dependency systems. For instance, customer assistance systems use software technology answering machines as opposed to the customer service representative mode of operation. Considering most of the technological changes come with laying-down of some employees as they are replaced with efficient systems, fear would be the most form resistance from employees. They would resist the change in fear of losing their jobs. This can be dealt with by proper communication and affirmation that no jobs will be lost. Actually, the changes can come with a small pay increase as an assurance. Organizational culture is manageable to the extent in which all the stakeholders are willing to cooperate. If changes are done rapidly and inefficiently, more resistance is expected. However, with the right approach, organizational culture is

Economic and Moral Devastation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Economic and Moral Devastation - Essay Example Your long introductory paragraph is informative, but your topical statement in the opening remarks does not give a hint of the elaborative content that readers stumble upon through the paragraph. The mention of the period in question gives us a historical background. However, I would suggest an inclusion of characters in the society other than the Populist Party that raised the alarm on the possible outcomes of the changes that were being noticed. Failure to mention Karl Marx is a great injustice to your essay given he was in the front line while advocating against capitalism. As seen in his work, he was against the idea of exploitation of laborers and peasants to generate wealth for just a few in the society. In his work, he asserts that the state had allowed few characters to accumulate capital â€Å"by increasing the degree of exploitation of labor†.   Marx addresses the concerns of your essay better as he sees how the capitalists take advantage of the proletarians and tu rn their blood and sweat to their wealth. It even hurts to realize that labor does not fetch as much as before as its supply is plenty. As Mooney notices, â€Å"their high wages were gone for good†.I find your essay address those elements that came with capitalism, but it again falls short of expectation when you downplay the rise of social classes. The United States had become conscious of classes, and the working class was the latest development back then. As you use the Populist Party as your pillar in examining the morality of capitalism.