This month’s TOPkit Digest is brought to you by Charlotte Jones-Roberts, Ed.D., Associate Instructional Designer from the Center for Distributed Learning at the University of Central Florida. She discusses Leading Through Change.

As we experience shifts, the ability to lead through uncertainty has become an essential skill for instructional designers and faculty developers. In this brief presentation, organizational change expert John Kotter discusses why successful change initiatives require both urgency and a clear vision. His framework reminds us that change is not a single event but an ongoing process that depends on communication, collaboration, and the engagement of stakeholders at every level. 

Stay tuned: there are great things in store for TOPkit!

Over the past year, uncertainty has become a familiar reality across higher education. Policy shifts, workforce transitions, and rapidly evolving technologies have challenged institutions and the professionals who support teaching and learning. As someone who has worked with TOPkit since 2017, I have seen firsthand how communities of practice help us navigate uncertainty. 

During periods of institutional change at my own university and throughout the broader higher education landscape, one constant has remained: the value of collaboration.  

TOPkit community partnerships remind us that while structures and circumstances may change, relationships provide continuity, resilience, and hope. 

Image generated using OpenAI, 2026

Bolman and Deal's (2017) Four Frames of Organizations offer a useful perspective for navigating uncertainty by encouraging leaders to consider structural, human resource, political, and symbolic dimensions of organizational life. 

When facing uncertainty, avoid viewing challenges through a single perspective. Bolman and Deal's Four Frames encourage leaders to examine organizational structures, people, power dynamics, and culture before taking action (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Looking through multiple lenses often reveals opportunities and solutions that might otherwise remain hidden. 

Resource: Bolman and Deal Four Frame Model

Professional networks and communities of practice provide stability during periods of disruption. TOPkit has long demonstrated how sharing experiences, resources, and expertise strengthens our collective capacity to respond to change. Communities thrive when relationships are intentionally cultivated before challenges arise (Wenger-Trayner & Wenger-Trayner, 2020). 

Resources: TOPkit Community and Wenger-Trayner Communities of Practice Resources

Uncertainty often creates information gaps that can increase anxiety among stakeholders. Transparent communication builds trust, even when complete answers are unavailable. Effective leaders acknowledge ambiguity while communicating what is known, what remains uncertain, and what actions are being taken (Kotter, 2012). 

Resource: Kotter's Leading Change Framework 

Few higher education professionals could have predicted the pace of change we have experienced in recent years. Rather than attempting to forecast every outcome, focus on developing adaptable systems, workflows, and professional learning practices that can evolve alongside changing institutional needs (Kotter, 2012). 

Resource: EDUCAUSE Review: Leadership and Adaptability in Higher Education 

Bolman and Deal's symbolic frame reminds us that traditions, stories, shared values, and rituals matter, especially during times of disruption (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Celebrating accomplishments, recognizing contributions, and maintaining spaces for connection reinforce a sense of purpose. The ongoing collaboration between TOPkit and FIU demonstrates how strong professional communities can provide stability and optimism even during periods of uncertainty. 

Resource: AAC&U Resources on Leadership and Organizational Change 

Summary

Reflecting on nearly a decade with TOPkit, I am reminded that uncertainty is not a new challenge for higher education professionals. What has sustained our community has been our willingness to learn from one another. The continued collaboration between TOPkit and Florida International University demonstrates that while circumstances evolve, shared purpose and professional relationships remain powerful sources of resilience. In uncertain times, community may be one of our most important leadership resources (Bolman & Deal, 2017; Wenger-Trayner & Wenger-Trayner, 2020). 

Drawing on practice-based work, the paper highlights where AI adds the most value—especially in ideation and content development—while emphasizing the continued importance of human expertise for interpretation, ethical decision-making, and pedagogical alignment. The discussion positions AI not as a replacement for instructional designers, but as a collaborative partner that can extend and enhance existing design processes when used intentionally.

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Generative AI may have been used to support information gathering and initial drafting. All final material was reviewed, refined, and approved by human contributors.

Bren Bedford, MNM, SFC®, Web Project Analyst II, Center for Distributed Learning, University of Central Florida

Florence Williams, Ph.D., Senior Instructional Designer, Center for Distributed Learning, University of Central Florida