Communication and the process of educational change

In this chapter, the authors describe the role of communication in the process of curricular reform at the eight schools that participated in The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's "Preparing Physicians for the Future: Program in Medical Education." The collective experience of these eight schools suggests that despite its general neglect in the discourse on educational innovation, good communication is a decisive element of any successful reform initiative. The authors focus this chapter on effective communication patterns for supporting educational reform. First, the authors discuss a four-stage model of change--recognizing the need for change, and planning, implementing, and institutionalizing change--and describe the role of communication in each of them. They outline the communication strategies needed to promote a sense of ownership among all participants; structures and mechanisms for supporting positive communication; and common lessons learned by all schools about successful communication.