Analyzing Problems in Schools and School Systems

Analyzing Problems in Schools and School Systems PDF Author: Alan K. Gaynor
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136497234
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Get Book Here

Book Description
Although there are many textbooks in the field of educational administration describing various organizational theories, this text is unique in tying organizational theory explicitly and systematically to a well-formulated problem- analysis methodology. It provides particular examples of bureaucratic, political, and leadership theories as well as descriptions of two broader theoretical frameworks: Burrell and Morgan's conceptual matrix and systems thinking. Special features include: * a fully developed methodology for describing and documenting problems in schools; * a systematic method for using different theoretical perspectives to analyze the causes of problems in schools; * carefully formulated questions illustrating how different theoretical frameworks lead policy analysts to look at problems differently and to focus on different types and sources of information concerning their possible causes; * substantial sample papers illustrating the methodology; and * a range of illustrative organizational theories, amply described and succinctly grounded intellectually. This book is directed toward students in organizational theory and problem analysis classes and their professors, as well as to school administrators seeking to examine their problems and policies from perspectives that go beyond personal experience.

Analyzing Problems in Schools and School Systems

Analyzing Problems in Schools and School Systems PDF Author: Alan K. Gaynor
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136497234
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 332

Get Book Here

Book Description
Although there are many textbooks in the field of educational administration describing various organizational theories, this text is unique in tying organizational theory explicitly and systematically to a well-formulated problem- analysis methodology. It provides particular examples of bureaucratic, political, and leadership theories as well as descriptions of two broader theoretical frameworks: Burrell and Morgan's conceptual matrix and systems thinking. Special features include: * a fully developed methodology for describing and documenting problems in schools; * a systematic method for using different theoretical perspectives to analyze the causes of problems in schools; * carefully formulated questions illustrating how different theoretical frameworks lead policy analysts to look at problems differently and to focus on different types and sources of information concerning their possible causes; * substantial sample papers illustrating the methodology; and * a range of illustrative organizational theories, amply described and succinctly grounded intellectually. This book is directed toward students in organizational theory and problem analysis classes and their professors, as well as to school administrators seeking to examine their problems and policies from perspectives that go beyond personal experience.

School Leadership

School Leadership PDF Author: Benjamin Piltch
Publisher: R&L Education
ISBN: 1607099527
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Get Book Here

Book Description
Parents, lawmakers, supervisors, and unions are among the many constituencies that demand influence, if not control, of the educational process. How does the school administrator balance all the needs of the various groups and still remain true to the ultimate, though most powerless constituency: the students? Through case studies and anecdotes based on real-life experiences, the authors share the ups and downs of the educational world, seeking to find the balance that is most effective in ensuring success. School Leadership:Case Studies Solving School Problems details decision making and actions taken that dramatically affect the success of students and schools as well as school systems. This second edition continues and improves on the first edition with a series of new and timely school leadership case studies that require the reader to reflect on the variety of issues that cross the principal's desk every day. The reader will find the case studies and anecdotes highly absorbing. They are so real, fraught with complexity, and will require the reader to use a sophisticated decision-making process.

Transforming Schools

Transforming Schools PDF Author: Rachel Cohen Losoff
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462529577
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 258

Get Book Here

Book Description
Presenting a unique team-based problem-solving model, this book shows how to turn K-8 school change from a daunting prospect into an achievable goal supported by a concrete plan. A framework is provided for addressing any schoolwide academic or behavior issue, from reading or math problems to concerns about school safety or tardiness. Four clear-cut steps are described: problem identification, problem analysis, plan development, and plan implementation/evaluation. User-friendly features include procedures for navigating each step, extended case examples, frequently asked questions, and 13 reproducible forms; the large-size format and lay-flat binding facilitate photocopying. Purchasers get access to a companion website where they can download and print the reproducible materials, as well as online-only practice exercises with answers. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by T. Chris Riley-Tillman.

Expert Problem Solving

Expert Problem Solving PDF Author: Kenneth Leithwood
Publisher: SUNY Press
ISBN: 9780791421086
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 388

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book presents a series of related empirical studies about the thinking and problem solving processes of expert educational leaders. It describes the nature of expert thinking and provides substantial explanations for the cognitive processes associated with expert thinking. Differences in the thinking and problem solving of male and female; novice and experienced; elementary, secondary, district administrators are all explored. In addition, the book provides a glimpse of the school administrator's world from a problem solving perspective and clarifies the kinds of experiences that give rise to expert thinking.

Social Problem Solving

Social Problem Solving PDF Author: Maurice J. Elias
Publisher: Guilford Press
ISBN: 9781572300729
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 202

Get Book Here

Book Description
This volume describes proven, practical techniques for promoting key skills in students for everyday social, academic, familial, and vocational success. Based on the work of a highly acclaimed, 15-year, ongoing multisite project, the approach is designed to help professionals encourage the development of enduring life tools and prevent substance abuse, HIV infection, violence, and other behavior-related problems. The program is directed toward children in primarily K-8 populations at high, moderate, and low levels of risk, in both regular and special education contexts.

Schools on the Move

Schools on the Move PDF Author: Jay Westover
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1071822403
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 233

Get Book Here

Book Description
"The greatest influence on school district improvement is the extent to which school leaders and teachers collectively transform climate, develop culture and build capacity for the purpose of creating coherence. Districts on the Move (DOTM) paved the way for system change by establishing coherent cultures of learning. Now that DOTM has been written and district leaders can establish the context for positive system change, this new book, Schools on the Move (SOTM), will delve into bringing that vision to life and realizing school improvement at the building level. At the heart of this matter is a foundational principle that schools are the unit of change for systemic improvement. It is imperative to reduce the variances in climate, culture, capacity and coherence that exist among and within school sites if school districts are to create a coherent system of continuous improvement. This book will provide practical tools and guidance to help schools create coherent systems (and thereby improve the whole district) in these four domains: 1. Shared Leadership: partnering with teachers and staff to develop a culture of co-learning 2. Clarity of Focus: creating a strategic focus on equitable student growth 3. Collective Expertise: developing instructional coherence through cycles of collaborative inquiry 4. Continuous Improvement: maintaining a focus on evidence and impact Collaborative inquiry is the vehicle through which this change is realized. Collaborative inquiry "shapes a common mindset" (Donohoo) and allows educators to develop collective efficacy through mastery of shared learning experiences"--

School and District Leadership in an Era of Accountability

School and District Leadership in an Era of Accountability PDF Author: Bruce G. Barnett
Publisher: IAP
ISBN: 1623963842
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 291

Get Book Here

Book Description
Our fourth book in the International Research on School Leadership series focuses on school leadership in an era of high stakes accountability. Fueled by sweeping federal education accountability reforms, such as the United States’ No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and Race to the Top (R2T) and Australia’s Performance Measurement and Reporting Taskforce, school systems around the world are being forced to increase academic standards, participate in high-stakes testing, and raise evaluation standards for teachers and principals. These results-driven reforms are intended to hold educators “accountable for student learning and accountable to the public” (Anderson, 2005, p. 2, emphasis in original). While policymakers and the public debate the merits of student achievement accountability measures, P-12 educational leaders do not have the luxury to wait for clear guidance and resources to improve their schools and operating systems. Instead, successful leaders must balance the need to create learning communities, manage the organizational climate, and encourage community involvement with the consequences testing has on teacher morale and public scrutiny. The chapters in this volume clearly indicate that as school leaders attend to these potentially competing forces, this affects their problem-solving strategies, ability to facilitate change, and encourage community involvement. We were delighted with the responses from colleagues around the world who were eager to share their research dealing with how leaders are functioning effectively within a high-accountability environment. The nine chapters in this volume provide empirical evidence of the strategies school leaders use to cope with problems and negotiate external demands while improving student performance. In particular, the voices and actions of principals, superintendents, and school board members are captured in a blend of quantitative and qualitative studies. The breadth of studies is impressive, ranging from case studies of individual principals to cross-district comparisons to national data from the National Center for Education Statistics. To highlight important findings, we have organized the book into five sections. The first section (Chapters 2, 3, and 4) highlights the problem-solving strategies used by principals and superintendents when pressured to turn around low-performing schools. In the second section (Chapters 5 and 6), attention is devoted to ways in which school leaders act as “buffers” by reducing the impact of external demands within their local school contexts. Next, Chapters 7 and 8 explore creative ways in which financial analyses can be used to assess the cost effectiveness of programs and services. Chapters 9 and 10 examine how principals enact their instructional leadership roles in managing curriculum reforms and evaluating teachers. Finally, in the last section (Chapter 11), Kenneth Leithwood synthesizes the major themes and ideas emerging across these chapters, paying particular attention to practical issues influencing school leaders in this era of school reform and accountability as well as promising areas for future research.

Critical Inquiry and Problem Solving in Physical Education

Critical Inquiry and Problem Solving in Physical Education PDF Author: Lisette Burrows
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136496769
Category : Sports & Recreation
Languages : en
Pages : 232

Get Book Here

Book Description
Critical inquiry, critical thinking and problem-solving are key concepts in contemporary physical education. But how do physical educators actually do critical inquiry and critical thinking? Critical Inquiry and Problem-Solving in Physical Education explains the principles and assumptions underpinning these concepts and provides detailed examples of how they can be used in the teaching of physical education for different age groups and in a range of different contexts. Topics covered include: sport education and critical thinking dance as critical inquiry media analysis understanding cultural perspectives student-led research and curriculum reflective coaching practice. The authors are teachers, teacher educators, policymakers and academics. Each shares a commitment to the notion that school students can do more than learn to move in physical education classes.

Grading the Nation's Report Card

Grading the Nation's Report Card PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309173620
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 296

Get Book Here

Book Description
Since the late 1960s, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)â€"the nation's report cardâ€"has been the only continuing measure of student achievement in key subject areas. Increasingly, educators and policymakers have expected NAEP to serve as a lever for education reform and many other purposes beyond its original role. Grading the Nation's Report Card examines ways NAEP can be strengthened to provide more informative portrayals of student achievement and the school and system factors that influence it. The committee offers specific recommendations and strategies for improving NAEP's effectiveness and utility, including: Linking achievement data to other education indicators. Streamlining data collection and other aspects of its design. Including students with disabilities and English-language learners. Revamping the process by which achievement levels are set. The book explores how to improve NAEP framework documentsâ€"which identify knowledge and skills to be assessedâ€"with a clearer eye toward the inferences that will be drawn from the results. What should the nation expect from NAEP? What should NAEP do to meet these expectations? This book provides a blueprint for a new paradigm, important to education policymakers, professors, and students, as well as school administrators and teachers, and education advocates.

The Data-Driven School

The Data-Driven School PDF Author: Daniel M. Hyson
Publisher: Guilford Publications
ISBN: 1462543103
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 259

Get Book Here

Book Description
This indispensable practitioner's guide helps to build the capacity of school psychologists, administrators, and teachers to use data in collaborative decision making. It presents an applied, step-by-step approach for creating and running effective data teams within a problem-solving framework. The authors describe innovative ways to improve academic and behavioral outcomes at the individual, class, grade, school, and district levels. Applications of readily available technology tools are highlighted. In a large-size format for easy photocopying, the book includes learning activities and helpful reproducible forms. The companion website provides downloadable copies of the reproducible forms as well as Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides, and an online-only chapter on characteristics of effective teams. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.