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  • Organizational Learning in Adoption and Adaptation of Reformed Instructional Practices of Engineering Instructors: A Case Study*
Title: Organizational Learning in Adoption and Adaptation of Reformed Instructional Practices of Engineering Instructors: A Case Study*
Despite a large body of work devoted to understanding why instructors struggle to implement reformed instructional practices, researchers only understand part of the variation in instructor learning and implementation of the practices. This narrative inquiry case study explored how a mechanical engineering department adopted and adapted Freeform (Ff), which is a pedagogical system, that includes instructional resources and instructional ethos. Findings show that the department adopted Ff with a vision to standardize its dynamics course. The three instructors of four sections of the course had some shared and unshared mental models of engineering teaching and learning that somewhat aligned with the vision. While one instructor adopted all five critical components of Ff in her teaching, the other two instructors did not leverage all the components. The instructors shared some resources for the course and discussed their teaching with others but not sufficient to come to a consensus on the final exam. Consequently, the department could standardize the course materials, homework, quizzes, and schedule, but not the final exam. Via eliciting different dimensions of organizational learning that occurred at the mechanical engineering department, the research suggests ways to improve adopting reformed instructional practices. Moreover, our study contributes to the body of literature by revealing the complexity of instructors’ decision-making to adopt and adapt Ff and the relationship and interaction among disciplines of organizational learning in the context of teaching the dynamics course.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1915574
PAR ID:
10545281
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
International Journal of Engineering Education
Date Published:
Journal Name:
International Journal of Engineering Education
Volume:
40
Issue:
5
ISSN:
0949-149X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1193–1208
Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
instructional practices engineering instructors adoption organizational learning mechanical engineering
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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