My Leadership Role –In Improving Student
Achievement through
“Theory of Action” Toronto Regional SIM SessionOct 16-17, 2012
Welcome to this Break-Out SessionAgenda:
(i) What is LSA? Quick overview(ii) Viewing of LSA video (Ken Leithwood)
(iii) Let’s investigate the 4 paths(i) Rational(ii) Emotional(iii) Organizational(iv) Family
(iv) What is a THEORY OF ACTION(v) Connecting our SIM Work to:* a Theory of Action* a LSA path
Your Reflection Template On your table you
will find a template
Please use it to record your thinking during the session.
Overview of the LSA Project Goal: to improve student learning by
building the instructional leadership capacities of principals
WHO: OPC, CPCO, ADFO in partnership with and funded by LNS and CSC
WHAT: guided by an evolving theory of action about what the LSA project needs to do to improve instructional leadership of principals
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Leadership and Student Learning
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After teaching, the second most
influential factor on student learning is
leadership (shared; formal and
informal).Ken Leithwood
The Principal’s Role
LSA THEORY OF ACTION
Theory of Action Overview
Video available
https://www.box.com/s/l4fpz9vn0u1x2glvraov
LSA Theory of Action Paper
How the Leading Student Achievement Project Improves
Student Learning: An Evolving Theory of Action
February 2010 Kenneth Leithwood
Let’s Investigate 4 Paths… Number off at your table 1,2,3,4…
1’s – gather at Table 1 – Rational Path 2’s – gather at Table 2 – Emotional Path 3’s – gather at Table 3 – Organizational Path 4’s – gather at Table 4 – Family Path
* Read your section of the article* Discuss what that path is all about* Return to your “home table”* Each person shares the path with which they are now more familiar
Let’s uncover the meaning of “Theory of Action” ?
GOAL ( intended outcome )
+ Problem of practice (inquiry)
Theory of Action(If… Then…)
Algorithm for “Theory of Action”
Roadway = Leithwood’s 4
pathways
car = vehicle
travelling down the
roadway = the theory of
action
Destination = improved student
achievement
Road conditions =our daily reality of the world
of education
Our Analogy…
We rideour theory of action
down one of the 4 pathways / roadways towards our destination
of improved student learning.
Our GPS guides our journey = our data and other evidence
(e.g., student learning, conditions for learning,
IF... THEN…
IF descriptive feedback is provided that is specific to individual student work and highlights next steps, THEN students will be able to improve the content and clarity of their written work.
Cause & Effect IF What teachers
are going to do/have students do…
THEN What students
are going to learn and/or
demonstrate
4 Corners Think about your SIM plan Connect
To which path might your learning need / inquiry/ theory of action be most tightly connected? Discuss
A theory of action and an associated path Determine
How might school/system leaders influence positive student learning?
Reality Check
Is our inquiry question focused? Is our inquiry tied to regular classroom
practice? Is our inquiry realistic
in terms of time & opportunity? How will we measure what we treasure?
GUIDING QUESTIONS…
IN MY ROLE AS A LEADER IN MY BOARD: What might my theory of action be? How might it be worded? How might I implement? What evidence might I gather to support my
theory? How will I track and receive feedback on the
Path upon which i have selected to work? (Monitoring)
In closing…
If you want to go fastgo alone
If you want to go fargo together…
African Proverb
Questions/Answers/Feedback Are there any outstanding questions?
Was this session helpful in framing your work within your school/board?