changing schools – lessons from the community of thinking program

changing schools – lessons from the community of thinking program adam lefstein adaml@netvision.net.il 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 adaml@netvision.net.il

changing schools – lessons from the community of thinking program