Fullan’s theory of ‘wrong drivers’: Iran Education System Reforms

The course is assessed by means of one 4,000 word (maximum) written assignment.

The purpose of the assignment is to draw together aspects of your learning on the course and enable critical reflection on aspects of existing practice in your own professional setting.  This calls for a merging of both theoretical and practical knowledge, understanding and analysis.  You will be encouraged to consider critically the transferability and suitability of some of these concepts, many of which emanate from ‘Western’ settings, in your own context. You will need to demonstrate that you have read widely and used your reading and your participation in the course to illuminate, inform, or develop your understanding of the leadership and management of change.

   An essay on:

1. Identify ONE education reform policy/measure recently adopted by a Ministry of Education with which you are familiar. Critically examine how different stakeholders have tried to shape this education policy and how the change has been introduced. Analyse and evaluate the measure in light of the literature you have read.

Topic:

Using Fullan’s theory of ‘wrong drivers’ to consider Iran’s Education system reforms during the last 50 years.

Changing curricula and educational reforms are the daily concerns of an educational system. The situation is similar in Iran education system; however, in half a century, there were four main educational reforms in Iran, namely the educational revolution of the 1960s, the fundamental change of the early years after Iran’s Islamic Revolution in the late 1970’s, the fundamental change of the 1980s and early 1990s, and the fundamental transformation of the 2000s and 2010s. What role did leaders and policymakers and stakeholders play in this? What processes and procedures were undertaken in these reforms, and what were the tangible outputs?

1. Definitions… Defining the terms and concepts from the previous scholars’ view points
2. Changes in Education systems: analyzing Fullen’s theory of ‘wrong drivers’ to better to illustrate the effectiveness of choosing right drivers for the whole system reforms, and also elaborating what infrastructures should an education system provide in order to be prepared for a change
3. Change in Centralized education systems : Elaborating on how centralized education systems go through the process of change
4. Leaders and policy makers
5. Stakeholders reaction to these reforms… analysis of teachers’ and other stakeholders’ responses to the reforms

Main References

1. Black, S. & Gregersen, H. (2002). Leading strategic change: Breaking through the brain barrier. New York: Prentice Hall

• Heifetz, R. & Linsky, M. (2002). Leadership on the line: Staying alive through the dangers of leading. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
• Choosing the wrong drivers for whole system reform , Michael Fullan

All assignments should discuss the course themes of leadership and/or management of change, to analyse the issues critically and to consider appropriate frameworks which could be applied, even if some of them are discussed in more depth than others.

Assignment Preparation

• Make a plan of what you want to include
• Think carefully about how you will structure your work.
• What will be the headings for the main sections?
• What will each section contribute to your overall argument?
• Plan and use an introduction to describe your rationale, personal interest in the topic and how you have structured your assignment.
• Briefly define key concepts you use and link them to appropriate sources.
• Identify and critically analyse the major issues and debates.
• Use journals, research studies, articles, books and if necessary internet sources to produce a broad, balanced and coherent argument.
• Describe and defend the position you have adopted.
• Show how your ideas connect with your own professional experience where this is appropriate.

Suggested outline by the lecturer:

Introduction:  1) overview of the general topic 2) writers perspective 3) organization of the essay

Section 1: Introducing the educational policy of the chosen country, analyze the policy

Section 2: Focus on theory, reasons why you chose Fullen, Explain the implications

Section 3: suggestions

Section 4: Implications

Conclusion

References (should be after 1990)