Re: On Scaling Up

jellis@nsf.gov
Thu, 06 Mar 97 13:47:21 EST

I am responding to the latest message on the TEECH-Leadership
ListServ. I agree that portfolio assessment is complex in that
successful implementation requires addressing changes in multiple
components of the system. As an innovation, however, it is not
particularly complex. As I have had time to think, however, I would
also say that the Madeline Hunter model is very complex. The
important issue of complexity is the degree to which the innovation
matches the current culture and approaches to teaching in the system
in which it is to be implemented. Using Rodger Bybee's metaphor of an
organ transplant, Madeline Hunter's model is a good match with the
rest of the overall system... it requires only minor changes in most
other components of the system. While portfolio assessment and
inquiry teaching challenge the foundation of what is meant about
teaching, learning, assessment, and the culture of schooling. So
while both inquiry teaching and direct approaches to teaching (as
advocated by the Hunter model) are equally complex. The complexity of
the change in the system required to implement the innovations differ
dramatically.

While I am on the subject, what is especially difficult in science
education reform is that new instructional materials often address
multiple innovations, such as cooperative learning, new approaches to
assessment, inquiry teaching, new definitions of content, new
structure and sequencing of content, and so forth. This is what the
CBAM researchers call an Innovation Bundle. Implementing an
Innovation Bundle has the potential of increasing the complexity of
the change dramatically. However, it also has the promise of pushing
over the critical excitation state the need to enact significant
changes (such as to culture, views of learning and teaching, goals,
and methods) rather than accepting superficial changes (such as block
scheduling or minimum time requirements for laboratory teaching).

-Jim Ellis

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