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Teaching and Student Assessment: Tools to Advance Curriculum Change Adoption Presented by: Valerie N. Williams, MPA Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Goals: The goals of this seminar were to be able to document teaching innovations and evaluate the success of specific innovations. The steps toward implementing successful innovation: The innovation diffusion curve - A framework for adoption of innovation includes a communication strategy. Recognize that the dissemination of innovation is a process over time. E.M. Rogers (1995) identified strata of people within an organization. "True innovators" make up about 2.5%, "early adopters" of innovation comprise 13.5%. These people are opinion leaders and have high credibility. The early majority makes up about 34% and are conservative deliberate followers. It is only after the first 50% of the organization adopts the innovation that it can be self sustained. An additional 34% make up the "late majority." These faculty are skeptical but can give important critique. The so-called "laggards," who essentially never adopt the innovation, make up about 16%. Guide the Innovation Adoption Plan a communication strategy Promote how the innovation will make the faculty/school/organization more successful Be clear what the innovation will make better Be mindful of the innovation diffusion curve Shifting Paradigms Current trend to shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered paradigm Learners construct knowledge through info gathering/synthesis Learners develop ability to integrate info with skills of inquiry, communication, critical thinking, problem solving, etc. Emphasis is on use and communication of knowledge with emphasis on generating better questions and learning from errors Promotes collaboration Communicating the Innovation Successful innovation will require clear communication from the innovators to the early adopters The benefits of the innovation should be apparent. These need to be clear for the faculty, the organization and the learners A reliable network of communication needs to be established and the "early adopters" involved in the process as opinion leaders Use team learning techniques Identify and refine assessment criteria to promote the dissemination of innovation What standards of excellence are best suited to the innovation? Do these standards compare favorably to accepted standards? Can the standards compare favorably to accepted standards? Can the standards be quantified and used for improvement of the innovation? Summarized by F. DiMario