Educational Reform as Innovation Diffusion: Development of a Theory and Test of a Model Using Continuing Professional Development and Instructional Technology

Abstract

Lack of implementation of instructional technology either to improve the classroom or to reform educational practice stimulated a study of the diffusion of innovation, which in turn led to creation of a new theory of reform through IT. This was followed by development of a model to test the theory. This paper describes the theory, the model and evaluative results from implementing the model. The major conclusion from this exercise is that research-oriented universities may underestimate the magnitude of the disruptive, second-order reform nature of IT. Consequently, they are likely to apply inappropriate change strategies instead of looking to the guidance from the history of innovation diffusion.