Change Agency in VET: Enablers and constraints

1
Change Agency in VET Enablers and constraints

• Martha Goldman, Tropical North Queensland TAFE
• martha.goldman_at_deta.qld.gov.au
• 07 4042 2454
• Reframing the Future NWOW Forum November 2008

2
Aim innovation in response to workforce
development requirements of VET teachers
implement TROPIC
VET Sector...
knowledge and expertise
New teachers
morale
Straight from industry
Aim also to develop change agency skills.
3
TROPIC Teachers Reflecting On Practices In
Contexts

• A coaching and mentoring framework
• Wise elders support newer teachers
• Workshops for mentors and for teachers
• Readiness for mentoring story

4
TROPIC
- the learning
mentoring
reflection
practice
networking
workshops
As a change agent reflecting on value of TROPIC
and implementing changes embedding it in the
organisation actively linking mentors and
teachers promoting and monitoring
5
Change agent roles
Regional TAFE
External organisation (large Trades training TAFE
institute)
Action Research Team
My organisation (regional TAFE)
Regional TAFE
Learning comparing internal and external roles
as change agent
6
Outcomes

• 11 Mentors and 32 teachers trained
• Teaching observations and mentoring sessions
  conducted
• Networks and links established
• Personal learning as change agent

7
Blockages and barriers
More workshops scheduled in December More
follow-up occurring now Learning as we go and
building links
8
Take away messages

• Theories and models of change agency
• illusion of manageability King and Anderson
• imperatives to act politically Buchanan and
  Badham
• Change is pervasive goals are contested PD is
  often relegated to the back burner
• PERSISTENCE and networking