However, the different strategies that Universities have taken to promote instructional change still have low to moderate success. The purpose of this talk is to briefly discuss why these change efforts have not been highly successful and to introduce a different approach to instructional change that accounts for the complex nature of academia. Using the lessons of System Dynamics, I will introduce the concept of feedback loops, list some prominent barriers and drivers to change, and explore with the participants how the interactions between different elements of the academic system could promote or hinder the motivation to adopt effective teaching practices. The goal is to help the participants learn some basic notions of System Dynamics and use these notions to increase their understanding of change in academia.

Biography

Juan M. Cruz M.Ed. is an assistant professor in the Department of Electronics Engineering at Universidad Javeriana in Bogota Colombia, and a Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering Education at Virginia Tech. His research focus is on instructional change in engineering education. During his 15 years of experience in Academia, he has been a professor, an electronics laboratory Manager, the head of the undergraduate program, and the leader of the Faculty Development program at the School of engineering at Universidad Javeriana.