Why I Hate "Program Planning" (Part 1)

I strongly dislike the term “program planning.” Why I have such a strong, negative reaction toward the phrase is not entirely clear, however. Nearly six months of reflection on the matter has failed to produced a coherent argument. Unconnected mental-emotional snippets clog my brain, so today I am trying something new: blogging my thoughts. This post, therefore, represents the first in what is likely to become a lengthy series. As this series progresses, please feel free to comment, offering advice, insight, and (gentle) critique. Perhaps together we can figure out why I hate “program planning.”

In a chapter on learning spaces, Knud Illeris (2007) describes how divided and disjointed modern life has become. Learning that takes place in one realm of life—say, the school—does not

Allard (1991) on Program Planning

Allard, P. B. (1991). Why they didn't learn what we wanted them to learn. In T. J. Sork (Ed.), Mistakes made and lessons learned: Overcoming obstacles to successful program planning (New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, vol 49) (pp. 55-66). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Type of Work

• Book Chapter

Problem Addressed

• Planning errors that limit learners’ ability to learn

My Notes

• Great list of things to do/not do.
• Highlights the importance of clarity, buy-in, and keeping the focus on the learning (which requires an understanding of and a commitment to the learner).

Great Quote

• “Education can be imposed, but learning cannot” (p. 65).