curriculum

Problem of Practice

Critical Content

  • Frame a system problem of improving teaching and learning.
  • Work from data to understand teaching and learning issues more deeply in the local context.
  • Develop strategies for how to work on the identified teaching and learning issue, and a clear rationale for why those strategies are likely to work (theory of action).
  • Evaluate progress over time, and refine the work, using evidence.
  • Make the work on problems of practice public.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will develop (or reinforce an existing) mental model for working on system problems of practice that incorporates:

  1. An emphasis on framing problems well.
  2. The importance of reframing problems from data.
  3. Ways of working productively with data of various types to both define problems and assess progress.
  4. Developing theories of action that include a clear rational for why chosen strategies are likely to address identified problems.
  5. Developing means to assess progress that turn available data into evidence.

Strand Texts

  • Cuban, L. (2001). How Can I Fix It? Finding Solutions and Managing Dilemmas: An Educator's Roadmap. (excerpt to be determined) New York: Teacher's College Press.
  • Copland, Michael and Knapp, Michael (2006). Connecting Leadership With Learning: A Framework for Reflection, Planning and Action. (Chapters 1 & 2) Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
  • Fullan, M. (2006). Turnaround Leadership. (excerpt to be determined) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.