Abstract
Recent analyses point to the importance of communication and policy representation in understanding and fostering reform success. I propose adopting the idea of a pattern language(Alexander, Ishikawa, Silverstein, Jacobson, Fiksdahl-King, & Angel, 1977) as a profitable direction for policy research on the design of policy documents. A pattern language is a comprehensive set of design elements that integrates abstract and concrete levels of description and notes the interconnections between these elements. In a reform document, the elements would be individual reform recommendations. It is argued that this form of representation, if adopted in standards-based reform documents, could facilitate the construction of shared meaning between policy-makers and reform-implementation agents, while sanctioning and guiding local adaptations that reflect the spirit of the reform.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 24-30 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Educational Researcher |
Volume | 35 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 2006 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education