About the Improvement Research Syllabus Development Project
The Improvement Scholars Network (ISN) has been working to build an adaptable, flexible syllabus prototype that supports faculty in integrating improvement research into university-based graduate coursework. This initial effort is focused on building a syllabus for a course focused on improvement science. We are considering the potential for subsequent efforts to use this syllabus as a template for syllabi focused on other formal approaches to improvement research.
The Introduction to Improvement Syllabus Prototype
Across the world, interest is growing in integrating improvement research and collaborative, continuous improvement into new or existing courses across a variety of educational programs. The Improvement Scholars Network has developed an adaptable, flexible syllabus prototype that faculty can use to introduce students to improvement research and collaborative, continuous improvement within a course or across a program.
The syllabus prototype:
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- Is intended to be relevant to multiple kinds of learners, including Certificate, Master’s, EdD, PhD, and other undergraduate and graduate programs.
- Was designed for optionality to ensure that the syllabus prototype can contribute to your course.
- Is organized around five central units that align with an underlying ‘grammar’ of improvement research, allowing for the integration of multiple approaches to improvement research.
- Was developed with multiple lessons within each unit, including discussion questions, resources and activities to apply to one’s own context, and an anchoring case that can be woven throughout the units.
Our Upcoming Community of Practice
In Fall 2026, we will launch a monthly Community of Practice (COP) to support instructors with their own improvement science courses. This COP will co-create course activities and share ideas, challenges, and learnings.
This project is being facilitated by:
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Erin Anderson, University of Denver (Erin.Anderson249@du.edu).
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Samantha Viano, George Mason University (sviano@gmu.edu).
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Max Yurkofsky, Radford University (myurkofsky@radford.edu).
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We look forward to collaborating with you! Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions and keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletters to learn more about getting involved.