Honoring the Legacy of
Dr. Roger Kaufman By Kevin Derryberry
D
r. Roger Kaufman, professor emeritus of Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies (ISLT), passed away on September 23, 2020. While Florida State University is no stranger to excellence, Kaufman held the unique distinction of being a founding figure of an entire field of research and practice. He didn’t simply establish the FSU ISLT program as one of the best in the world; he helped shape educational technology and learning improvement into what they are today. Over the course of his career, Kaufman published 41 books and more than 300 articles on the subjects related to performance improvement, planning, management and needs assessment. He held many titles throughout his life, working with non-governmental organizations, universities, governments and more. He believed in mega-planning that would provide a practical approach for businesses, schools and non-profit organizations to develop the kind of world that would benefit the future. In fact, much of his work was dedicated to the admirable goal of making the world a better place. A common theme in his work considered the concept of “needs” both as a noun and a verb. He often wrote about how needs describe the gap between results and consequences. In that respect, his passing leaves a gap not just in the field but in the lives of friends, family and the community he helped build. It was only fitting that the College of Education paid tribute to Kaufman, who cared about sharing knowledge and improving performance, by creating an event to do just that. On April 2, 2021, the Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies program hosted the Roger Kaufman Memorial – Alumni Student Knowledge Exchange to honor his life and legacy. As ISLT alumna Cathy Tencza (M.S. ’85) points out, “I think Roger showed up for every alumni event I attended in the past 30 years.” While participants missed his presence, his influence was undeniable, as he had affected the lives of every single presenter and attendee. LOCAL IMPACT Kaufman’s research and publications established an international interest in the field of human performance, but his local community also directly benefited from his generosity and dedication. Even during his life, he found ways to help individuals and organizations in Tallahassee. In 2016, in honor of his impact on the Tallahassee community, the College of Education partnered with the local non-profit organization, 21st Century Council, to begin offering the Roger Kaufman Exemplary Community Agency Award. This award recognizes local non-profits that apply Kaufman’s strategy of needs assessment to improve our community.
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