Module 2: Shared Leadership in a School Context - Vision, Mission, Evidence, and Goals

The video below explains the content of this module in more detail, so that you know what to expect in the upcoming units.

• Evidence
• Goal setting is collaborative
• Surveys, questionaires of how we can aprove our students' realning

Activity:

Define your learning objectives

My learning objectives are

• Understand the key role of evidence in shared leadership practices
• Reflect on my role in my school and myschool practice

Padlet

2.1 School Vision Leadership is first and foremost about a vision

What is a “vision”?

A vision is a commitment that is clear, concise, explicit, and easily understandable. It can be translated into all actions and recognisable with specific targets along the way.

Tools for Effective Principal Leadership: Vision

Students’ learning is in the centre of the school vision. The leaders have to reorganise, re-establish and re-define the school’s direction, so that it can provide students with opportunities to succeed. 

Activity:

What makes an educational vision great? Why?

An educational vision can be great if it encounters all parts of education, the students, the teachers, the parents, the local community. This way, learning with be effective and will have great results.

Padlet

Reflective moment

Do you have a school vision? If yes, post a summary in English of your school vision and how it is defined in your school. If no, do you think a common school vision can serve your goals? How?

Activity:

My comments in this Padlet

 

Activity: 

Common elements you found in the school missions presented in the previous page

What are the common elements you found in the school missions you saw in the previous section? 

Padlet

An example of data gathering in schools:

Activity: 

Reflect upon this module

How does the interaction and dynamics between formal and non-formal leaders, students and parents contribute to the school vision and mission? What role do formal leaders have in facilitating these interactions?

The interaction is important and nessesary, because the vision of a school have to be common. It is up to formal leaders to make those steps to collaboration and the development of good relations between all parts of the school. Create a healthy environment of communication is the job of good leaders.

Padlet

An excellent video on how a leader is gathering data and checks how and if the school vision actually takes place in that school (align vision & action):

Multiple Choice

0.0/5.0 points (graded)

Watch first the video from the beginning until minute 3.25 and answer the following questions:

1. Looking at the way the head teacher gathered information about the school mission, we can say the following:

The head teacher did not gather information in a systemic way but only through short observation.

The head teacher gathered data about the school activities in a structured, non-biased and reliable way.

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2. Looking at the leadership team discussion what do you think went wrong, if at all?

The head teacher didn’t set individual meetings with the teachers to communicate the changes she plans.

The head teacher decided to adapt the school mission and vision by herself, she just informed the team instead of engaging them in this process

There was no problem in the way the head teacher informed the teachers about the changes she wants to implement in the school.

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3. What was the reaction of the schoolteachers to the newly drafted school vision? Choose all that apply

They felt irrelevant as they were not consulted in the process

They did not care about the change

They were worried on how this change will affect their planned activities

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We recommend you finish watching the video to learn the alternative inclusive scenario that can be put in place when reviewing your school vision and values and identify when to redevelop or refresh. Here is a question that can help you in this process:

4. What are the correct actions and approaches the head teacher adopted in the “positive scenario”? choose 5 that apply.

Speaking to teachers and trying to understand the school context

Discarding past practices and starting from scratch

Identifying what are the key practices and what needs to be adapted and changes

Engage staff, students and families

Collecting data through surveys and questionnaires

Working only in small leadership group

Collecting data through surveys and questionnaires and through conversation and reflection with school staff

Make sure there are mechanisms in place to support the planned actions

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