SESSION 5 LEADERSHIP IN A LEARNING ORGANIZATION DR LYN SHARRATT OISE/UT - Course 1048 Winter 2002

OVERVIEW ON-LINE LEARNING/EXPLORING CHAPTERS 5 & 6: PERTINENT POINTS EXAMINE SCHOOL DATA COLLECTION BREAK “WHAT DID THE LEADER DO?” QUESTIONS FOR THE PRINCIPAL OF COSS REFLECTOR NEXT WEEK: CHAPTER 7

Methodology . School Board was selected because it had the necessary teacher access to computer hardware, wide-area network, and Electronic Village hook up that a study of the database demanded. . 25 Teachers from 5 schools (12 secondary, grade 9 teachers, and 13 grades 7and8 teachers in one school board (approx.. 25,000 students) volunteered: . interest in curriculum resource materials at the Trans. Years level . using tech. to access information . comm. electronically with peers . using database actively and regularly, and evaluating database.

Framework 2.1 Adaptations: . the indirect (norm, beliefs, values and tacit assumptions) and direct (rituals policies/procedures, artifacts, symbols) influence of culture. . Knowledge Utilization constructs: 3 areas . Outcomes: increased capacity, reflection, embedded practices, systems thinking Factors Construct: Most influence on teachers’ learning of tech. External environment/School Bd.: On-going training 92% of teachers said essential, technical and program support, focused PD and funding to match Tech. Vision . Leadership: most influenced Culture in schools. . Implicit Culture revealed that shared values most impacted on Collaborative Cultures School Conditions: . Problem-solving, collaborative culture . Flexible structures/use of teacher-leaders . Resources: support and time in using technology, use of relevant, easily accessible resources OLP: . opportunity to interact with colleagues on-line School 5: . Closest to LO: Enough dynamic leadership, collaborative culture, participatory decision-making and shared values to sustain meaningful dialogue amid a turbulent environment.

Framework 2.2 KNOWLEDGE UTILIZATION Conditions(resource)/Characteristics of the source - relevance of the resource Conditions(culture 2))/Characteristics of the setting- user personal char.: in-school role, experience, leadership in decision-making. OL(processes)/ Interactive Processes: on-line involvement with colleagues (about the Resource Database) .

RESULTS . Factors - 1. External Factors: School Board: Connected vision to in-service and funding for Technology 2. Leadership: Influenced Culture/Shared decision making process/Promoted use of technology 3. Implicit Culture: Shared values/ Some conflict evident .

Conditions - . . 1. Structure: Flexible/distributed leadership 2. Resources: Relevant/Time/Accessible/Assistance 3. Culture: Explicit/collaborative/problem solving Outcomes - Collective Changed Practices . .

Knowledge Utilization Culture/characteristics of the setting: “user personal characteristics” Resources/characteristics of the source: “content and relevance of the source” OL Processes/Interactive Processes: “on-line involvement and discussion with colleagues” .

Learning Organizations Research Some conditions across contexts and geographic locations Areas of influence: leadership school board/district culture Schools are able to identify key barriers and enhancers to learning Addresses how we learn

Learning Organizations Research - continued Organization: cross-functional learning teams of staff & management Continued employee education Knowledge-based products (OBL) and services Increased capacity in individual and collective learning is a focus Shared meaning AND common purposes are important (values) Leaders have a capacity for continual learning