changing schools – lessons
from the community of
thinking program
adam lefstein
[email protected]
august, 2004
at a glance
• models
• lessons learned
• questions to consider
model #1 –
professional development talk
•
•
common examples:
clarifying common vision
learning about learning
problem:
talk becomes detached from,
and sometimes replaces
action
Edward Fiske, Smart Schools, Smart Kids
“The renewal of public education...
requires nothing less than a frontal
assault on every aspect of schooling -the way we run districts, organize
classrooms,
use
time,
measure
achievement, assign students, relate
schools to their surroundings, and hold
people accountable.”
model #2 –
radical, comprehensive change
changing, all at once:
• instruction
• teacher roles
• curriculum
• assessment
• organization of time
and space
• textbooks
• management
problems:
overwhelming,
unmanageable and
fosters insecurity
model #3 –
the “aspects” approach
•
•
•
•
common examples:
understanding performances
cooperative learning teams
inquiry projects
questioning pedagogy
problems:
• getting “stuck” prematurely
• the whole is larger than the
sum of its aspects
model #4 –
experimental group
•
•
common variations:
disciplinary team
experimental classroom
problems:
• an “island” of change in a
relatively static system
• what to do with the control group?
models #1-4 –
external facilitators
•
•
•
•
•
consult management
conduct professional development
activities
facilitate design and implementation
support classroom instruction
provide feedback
problems:
• may lead to over-dependence
• expensive to scale-up
model #5 –
developing pedagogical leadership
•
•
two approaches:
disengaged facilitation model
teachers assuming facilitators’
roles
problems
• disengagement always unpopular
and often ineffective
• teacher-facilitator = role conflict
model #6 –
an inter-school network
•
•
•
•
•
for...
mutual learning
moral support
constructive
competition
political leverage
collaboration
challenges:
• time and distance
• creating a common
agenda
• critical friendship
Lessons learned
Some mistakes...
•
“Starting from scratch” mentality
•
Becoming addicted to external experts
•
Unrealistic expectations
•
Letting talk over-reach practice
Lessons learned
About change...
• Changing school is a “wicked”
problem
• Think far and big, act near and
small
• Use structures to leverage practice
• Anchor everything to teaching and
learning in the classroom
Lessons learned
About leadership and politics...
•
Involve all stakeholders in the process
•
Facilitate communication and
collaboration
•
Coercion is futile
•
Resistance is generally a good sign
•
Celebrate success
Lessons learned
Every school is a unique context;
there are no generalizable “best
practices” that can be easily and
successfully copied.
so you’re thinking about adopting the
community of thinking model...
questions you might want to consider:
thank you
adam lefstein
[email protected]