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Envisioning Educational Transformation

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4.8

Based on 12 ratings

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Donald Peurach

Envisioning Educational Transformation supports aspiring change agents in moving beyond the status quo by building new ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity in their local contexts, with a specific focus on identifying relationships among global, national, and local agendas for systems transformation. You will engage with leading policymakers and researchers to understand global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, and you will collaborate with course colleagues in cross-national comparisons of ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity to fuel your creativity and motivation. You’ll then engage in local systems analyses and lead a local “visioning conversation” with the aim of building shared ambitions for educational transformation in your local context.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Kickoff

Thank you for joining us in "Envisioning Educational Transformation"! Please continue for a warm welcome to begin your learning journey.

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Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Supports aspiring change agents in designing creative and ambitious plans for educational equity and access in their communities

Engages learners with leading policymakers and researchers to boost creative thinking and motivation

Examines global, national, and local agendas for systems transformation

Involves cross-national comparisons of educational access, quality, and equity to broaden perspectives

Emphasizes local systems analyses and local visioning to drive concrete change in learners' local communities

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Reviews summary

Driving educational transformation through policy and practice

According to students, 'Envisioning Educational Transformation' is a highly relevant and thought-provoking course for those looking to drive change in education. Learners particularly value the expert insights from policymakers and researchers, and the opportunity for cross-national comparisons which broadens their perspective on global educational challenges. The course is praised for its focus on practical application, especially the unique 'visioning conversation' which encourages real-world engagement. While providing a strong theoretical foundation, some students expressed a desire for more concrete, actionable strategies, suggesting a slight theoretical bias. Overall, it is seen as a valuable program for aspiring change agents.

Peer interaction quality varied, impacting learning.

"The collaborative elements, especially working with diverse colleagues from different backgrounds, significantly enriched my learning experience."

"My experience in the group discussions varied; some interactions were highly insightful, while others felt less engaged or productive."

"The success of the collaborative assignments really depended on the level of participation and commitment from my assigned peers."

Strong theory, some desire more direct practical tools.

"The course provided a robust theoretical framework for understanding educational transformation, which I found very helpful."

"While I enjoyed the deep dive into policy, I wished for more concrete, step-by-step strategies for immediate implementation."

"It offers great concepts and ideas, but sometimes I felt I needed more 'how-to' guidance rather than just 'what-to-think-about'."

Offers valuable cross-national and global comparisons.

"The cross-national comparisons significantly broadened my understanding of diverse educational challenges and solutions worldwide."

"Thinking globally helped me see the interconnectedness of educational systems and the universal goals for equity."

"It was fascinating to compare ambitions for educational equity across different countries, providing rich context."

Encourages practical application through local visioning.

"The 'visioning conversation' assignment was a unique and impactful way to apply concepts directly to my local context."

"I appreciated the strong focus on building shared ambitions for transformation within my own community."

"This course truly pushed me beyond theory, encouraging me to consider actual implementation strategies for change."

Provides current, critical perspectives on educational change.

"I found the course content to be incredibly timely and relevant, directly addressing current global educational challenges."

"Engaging with leading policymakers and researchers was a highlight, offering real-world insights into system transformation."

"The discussions on global and national policy discourses significantly helped me contextualize my local work."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Envisioning Educational Transformation with these activities:

Watch the video tutorials on the course website

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These tutorials will provide you with additional support and clarification on the course material.

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Log in to the course website.
Click on the 'Tutorials' tab.
Watch the videos.

Read 'The Innovator's Dilemma'

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This book provides insights into the challenges of innovation in established organizations, which is relevant to the challenges of educational transformation.

View The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books) on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Discuss the book with a colleague or mentor.

Read 'Leading Change'

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This book provides a framework for leading change in organizations, which will be helpful for those aspiring to lead educational transformations.

View Successful Organizational Change: The Kotter... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Discuss the book with a colleague or mentor.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Complete the online exercises on the course website

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These exercises will help you to reinforce the concepts you are learning in the course.

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Log in to the course website.
Click on the 'Exercises' tab.
Complete the exercises.

Attend a workshop on a specific topic related to educational transformation

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This will allow you to learn more about a specific topic and develop new skills.

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Find a workshop that is relevant to your interests.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.

Attend a conference or workshop on educational transformation

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This will allow you to connect with other professionals in the field and learn about new developments.

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Find a conference or workshop that is relevant to your interests.
Register for the event.
Attend the event and participate in the discussions.

Develop a vision for educational transformation in your local context

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This project will allow you to apply the concepts you are learning in the course to your own context and develop a concrete plan for action.

Browse courses on Visioning

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Identify the key challenges and opportunities in your local educational system.
Develop a vision for how you would like to see the system transformed.
Create a plan for how you will achieve your vision.

Create a blog post or article on a topic related to educational transformation

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This activity will allow you to synthesize your learning and share your insights with others.

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Choose a topic that you are passionate about.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post or article that is informative and engaging.
Publish your blog post or article online.

Career center

Learners who complete Envisioning Educational Transformation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Education Consultant

Education Consultants help schools and other educational institutions improve their performance. They may work with administrators, teachers, and students to develop and implement new programs and strategies. This course would be helpful for Education Consultants because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Consultant

Educational Policy Analyst

Educational Policy Analysts conduct research and analysis to inform the development and implementation of educational policies. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations. This course would be helpful for Educational Policy Analysts because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Policy Analyst

Education Program Manager

Education Program Managers plan, develop, and implement educational programs. They may work for schools, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course would be helpful for Education Program Managers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Program Manager

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and implement educational materials and programs. They may work for schools, colleges, universities, or corporate training departments. This course would be helpful for Instructional Designers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers plan and develop educational curricula. They may work for schools, colleges, universities, or non-profit organizations. This course would be helpful for Curriculum Developers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Teacher

Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings. They may work for public or private schools, colleges, universities, or non-profit organizations. This course would be helpful for Teachers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Principal

Principals lead and manage schools. They are responsible for the overall operation of the school, including the development and implementation of educational programs, the hiring and supervision of staff, and the management of the school budget. This course would be helpful for Principals because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Principal

Superintendent

Superintendents lead and manage school districts. They are responsible for the overall operation of the district, including the development and implementation of educational programs, the hiring and supervision of staff, and the management of the district budget. This course would be helpful for Superintendents because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Superintendent

Education Researcher

Education Researchers conduct research on a variety of educational topics, including student learning, teacher effectiveness, and school improvement. They may work for universities, research institutions, or government agencies. This course would be helpful for Education Researchers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Researcher

Policymaker

Policymakers develop and implement public policy. They may work for government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations. This course would be helpful for Policymakers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policymaker

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit Managers lead and manage nonprofit organizations. They are responsible for the overall operation of the organization, including the development and implementation of programs, the hiring and supervision of staff, and the management of the organization's budget. This course would be helpful for Nonprofit Managers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Education Advocate

Education Advocates work to improve the quality of education for all students. They may work for non-profit organizations, government agencies, or schools. This course would be helpful for Education Advocates because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Advocate

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work to build and strengthen communities. They may work for non-profit organizations, government agencies, or community groups. This course would be helpful for Community Organizers because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and support to organizations on a variety of topics, including education. They may work for consulting firms, non-profit organizations, or government agencies. This course would be helpful for Consultants because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. They may work in a variety of industries, including education. This course would be helpful for Entrepreneurs because it provides an overview of the global and national policy discourses about educational transformation, as well as strategies for building shared ambitions for educational access, quality, and equity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Envisioning Educational Transformation.

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Collaborative Professionalism

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Comprehensive guide to leading change in educational organizations. It offers practical strategies and case studies to help leaders overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

Collaborative Professionalism: When Teaching...

Collaborative Professionalism: When Teaching...

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Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design

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Provides a framework for designing effective and engaging learning experiences. It offers valuable insights for aspiring change agents seeking to improve educational practices.

Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design: how do I refine...

(العربية) Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design: How do I refine...

Solving 25 Problems in Unit Design: how do I refine...

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The Governance Core 2.0

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Is commonly used as a reference by educational leaders and policymakers. It provides a comprehensive overview of the theories and practices of educational change.

The Governance Core 2.0: School Boards,...

The Governance Core 2.0: School Boards,...

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Paving Pathways for Inclusion

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This document provides a comprehensive overview of the World Bank's strategy for supporting educational development globally. It aligns with the course's focus on global perspectives on educational transformation.

Paving Pathways for Inclusion

Paving Pathways for Inclusion

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Design Thinking and the New Spirit of Capitalism

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Introduces the principles of design thinking and shows how they can be applied to educational contexts. It offers valuable tools and techniques for developing innovative solutions to educational challenges.

Design Thinking and the New Spirit of Capitalism:...

Design Thinking and the New Spirit of Capitalism:...

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Putting FACES on the Data

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Practical guide for leaders looking to implement change in any context. It offers a step-by-step framework for leading change effectively.

Putting FACES on the Data

Putting FACES on the Data

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Explores the role of vision in educational leadership. It provides insights for aspiring change agents seeking to inspire and motivate others to work towards a shared vision of educational transformation.

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The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

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This classic work on innovation offers a framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities of disruptive technologies. It provides valuable insights for educational leaders seeking to navigate the complexities of educational transformation.

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

The Disruptive Innovation Set (2 Books)

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Mystery Magazine

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Offers a practical guide to improving school performance. It provides valuable insights for educational leaders seeking to implement effective change initiatives.

Mystery Magazine: June 2023 (Mystery Weekly...

Mystery Magazine: June 2023 (Mystery Weekly...

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Taming Chance in Education

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Provides a comprehensive analysis of the global education industry. It offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing educational systems worldwide.

Taming Chance in Education: Control, Prediction and...

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Rating

4.8

Effort

30 hours to complete

Level

Introductory

Via

Coursera

Institution

University of Michigan

Instructor

Donald Peurach

Language

English

This course belongs to a collection called Transforming Education in an Interconnected World. It's comprised of four courses:

Envisioning Educational Transformation (viewing)
Series Orientation: Transforming Education
Reimagining Educational Innovation
Practicing Collaborative, Continuous Improvement

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Supports aspiring change agents in designing creative and ambitious plans for educational equity and access in their communities

Engages learners with leading policymakers and researchers to boost creative thinking and motivation

Examines global, national, and local agendas for systems transformation

Involves cross-national comparisons of educational access, quality, and equity to broaden perspectives

Emphasizes local systems analyses and local visioning to drive concrete change in learners' local communities

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