REFLECTIONS ON PUTTING THEORY IN PRACTICE INTO ACTION IN THE CLASSROOM |
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| Authors: | Ann-Marie Rizzo |
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| Affiliation: | Ann-Marie Rizzo is a Professor of Government at Tennessee State University. She is the past president of the National Conference on Teaching Public Administration. Her research interests include public policy theory. |
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| Abstract: | Effective learning necessitates a change of behavior on the part of the student. The author asserts that the introduction of abstract theories to students does little to advance the students' competence or efficiency. Rather, a case is made for allowing students to create their own theories of action based upon their individual circumstances and experiences. The concept of an "action theory" is forwarded as an effective tool for teaching public administration students. The action theory recognizes the student's need to have relevant frameworks and practical guidelines. Furthermore, the author predicts that the action theory will give public administrators greater control over their work environments inasmuch as it establishes more honest assessments of organizational conditions.
"If you want to get ahead, get a theory. B. Inholder and A. Karmiloff-Smith
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