“In Reclaiming Our Teaching Profession: The Power of Educators Learning in Community, Hord and Tobia (2012) outline what leaders do to generate the favourable conditions for powerful professional learning to occur:
• Create an atmosphere and context for change
• Develop and communicate a shared vision for change
• Plan and provide resources
• Invest in professional development
• Check progress
• Give continuous assistance. “
21st Century Leadership: Looking Forward An Interview with Michael Fullan and Ken Leithwood
It is interesting to note that the Victorian Department of Education and Training’s research web site (http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/research) lacks significant educational research papers on any forward thinking regarding a system wide approach to changes in teaching and learning. If Fullan and Leithwood have much to say about a system wide approach to 21st Century leadership and the necessity for change then our leaders are not listening, or so it would appear. On the basis of the amount of research targeted at social justice which is good in itself, there appears to be a deafening silence on how our students should navigate a digital future where change is incredibly prolific and productive communication is as mandatory as knowing how to spell.
“ … It’s a matter of striving for the best, a kind of “moral Olympics” in which you're doing better and better for the good of the students. So in that sense we are competing with Finland and that’s a good thing. Because we want to outperform them, not for the sake of surpassing them, but because we want to do better and better and because the world will be better as a result. “
21st Century Leadership: Looking Forward An Interview with Michael Fullan and Ken Leithwood
Or am I being overly critical? The Finnish educational model produces results and Ontario is keen to chase their success and claim it for their own. Have we dropped the ball somewhere? I can see the need for system wide change and that this needs to be supported and driven from the top, at a Government level. Who is responsible? How can a small-time, worker bee like me really affect change?
Hi Phil, I share your angst. Hopefully we will have someone from the Digital Learning team at our next workshop and you can pose these questions then as well.
ReplyDeleteI guess Bastow is part of the system and thus some change is evident there....but in referring to where you can focus your energies - on those things over which you CAN have influence: what you do in your classroom; what happens across your leadership team; how the capacity of your colleagues can be built; how connections between your teachers and your students, the school and parents can grow and flourish.
And keep your eyes on the prize :)
Hi Phil, Thanks for sharing your blog - I hope you note how well you have trained your Principal to access this blog (unaided)!! I am now in a position to consider the content!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Hugh
Hi Phil, i agree that there is little research on the website regarding system wide transformation of teaching and learning and this is of concern, however I think it is worth noting the involvement of DET in the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning project , involving 80 schools, lead by Michael Fullan, exploring, researching and developing an understanding of the very things you discuss. Of course it remains to be seen what results will come from this project, but I think it has one very important element....the exploration and research is being developed at the school level, but with direction, support and leadership from the top.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure being"driven" from the top is the best direction..because its too easy for the "top" to lose sight of the focus and impact of the work. It is school communities, teachers, students, parents and school leaders that CAN affect change. We have the tools and connections to develop communities of practice and understanding that can help forge and drive the direction that we want the "top" to support.