Innovation in Curriculum Planning and Program Development

Abstract

Following definitions by Havelock and Huberman (1978) and Nicholls (1983), innovation can be defined as a deliberate effort, perceived as new and intended to bring about improvement. As such, innovation is distinguished from change which is any difference that occurs between Time one and Time two. What is crucial in innovation is that it is change involving human intervention.Since human agency is involved, innovation can be viewed from many angles: individual, social, organizational, political, technological, and historical. Not surprisingly, much attention has been given to the technological aspects of innovation, among which can be included language pedagogy.

Closing the pre and in‐service gap: Perceptions and implementation of the IPA during student teaching

“…Supporting previous research (see Nicholls, 1983; Stoller, 1994, 2009; White, 1992), the study echoes the need for positive, initial visibility of the IPA and hands‐on experience in order to encourage subsequent adoption and implementation. STs were clearly positive in their defense of the three modes of communication and their intent to implement the IPA when hired.…”

“…The concepts and ideas may be there, but there has been no impetus to embrace it, particularly when state learning standards have not recommended or required it. Acceptance and implementation of educational innovations such as the IPA rely more on the perception of the innovation more than the reality of the innovation (Nicholls, 1983; Stoller, 1994, 2009; White, 1992).…”

Testing Regime Change as Innovation: Washback Potential Over Time

“…Though this idea of washback as a multi-faceted phenomenon has become widely accepted, the challenge that has remained for language testers is to categorize these mediating factors into a coherent and user-friendly model (Tsagari & Cheng, 2017;Wall, 2000). In the early 1990s, White (1993) observed a particular gap in the literature that helped push the field forward noting that "Most applied linguistics and testing literature had skimmed over the issue of innovation" (p. 45). Citing Miles (1964, p. 14), Henrichsen (1989) defines innovation as a species of the genus 'change'….…”

“…[It is] a deliberate, novel, specific change, which is thought to be more efficacious in accomplishing the goals of a system"…In addition, an innovation is usually "willed and planned for, rather than … occurring haphazardly" (p. 65). Some researchers, such as White (1993), are explicit in distinguishing differences between the terms 'change' and 'innovation'. White says "the difference has to do with intentionality: while change is any difference that occur [s] between time one and time two, an innovation requires human intervention" (p. 244).…”

“…There are many theories and models of diffusion-of-innovation available from different disciplines, such as education, sociology, psychology, business administration, and public health. (Fullan, 2007(Fullan, , 2015Henrichsen, 1989;House, 1979House, , 1981Kennedy, 1988;Lamie, 2004;Markee, 1997;Rogers, 2003;Waters, 2009;White, 1993). These theories and models have explained innovation from different angles and perspectives; however, Henrichsen (1989) suggests, "wherever new ideas can benefit practitioners, a diffusion of innovation approach can be valuable" (p.4).…”