More than Knowing At Mercy College Karin Gilbert & Michelle Cotter

Mercy College2 Why knowledge management? “Knowledge is a fluid mix of framed experience, values, contextual information, and expert insight that provides a framework for evaluating and incorporating new experiences and information. It often becomes embedded not only in documents or repositories but also in organisational routines, processes, practices and norms.” (Davenport and Prusak, 1998)

Mercy College3 The theories Intellectual capital approach (relies heavily on technological infrastructure) Knowledge category (explicit, tacit, cultural) Social constructionist approach (communities of practice feature)

Mercy College4 Definition Knowledge Construction Knowledge Dissemination Knowledge Use Knowledge Embodiment Demerest 1997

Mercy College5 Philosophical Approach Learning Organisation: –Are adaptive –Continually enhance their capacity to change / adapt –Develop collective as well as individual learning –Use the results of learning to achieve better results

Mercy College6 Learning Culture Future, external orientation Free exchange and flow of information Commitment to learning, personal development Valuing people – ideas, creativity and ‘imaginative capabilities’ Climate of openness and trust Learning from experience

Mercy College7 What is most relevant for the learning organisation? Tacit, explicit and cultural knowledge Explicit – topic documentation, operations manuals, policies Administrative practices codified in manuals, reports, policies Communities of practice- faculty meetings, heads of learning or curriculum committee meetings, both explicit and tacit

Mercy College8 Knowledge sharing Individual, organisational, cross organisation and “culture” “Organisations must foster knowledge giving as well as knowledge seeking” Fullan 2002 Knowledge sharing with moral purpose What are the crucial factors we need to consider for this to happen?

Mercy College9 Key Management Process Strategic scenario planning PESTLE or Learning Environment Analysis Capability planning Team and organization development Performance measurement Reward and recognition systems

Mercy College10 Cultural change Leadership Learning and teaching (curriculum) Technological infrastructure Professional learning

Mercy College11 Visualising Structures & Communication Flow Charting ‘the fit’ of people and roles within a team eg. Faculty Coordinators’ Committee Team Structure 2004 Acknowledging responsibilities Identifying support needs

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Mercy College13 Learning and teaching Capturing and storing essential curriculum knowledge, including innovations and teaching strategies. Focus on improving student learning outcomes, using data to help staff monitor teaching strategies and techniques Focus here is on more explicit knowledge

Mercy College14 Macro and Micro Level Innovation Intranet: Eg. First there was the “tree” ….. Then there was MyDesktop … and then MyClasses ….. ….. Now ….. Network Structure: –Common structures –Hyperlinking –File management system

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Mercy College17 Professional Learning How well and how willingly do we share what we know? How do we facilitate this exchange? Focus here is on tacit knowledge Communities of practice ideal

Mercy College18 Professional Learning Whole school plan (project management plan) In-house delivery – show casing what is already done that promotes deep learning Review and reflection on professional learning experiences

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Mercy College20 Knowledge Sharing Framework Catholic school Organizational Learning Increased capacity of every member Improving Student Learning Outcomes Registered Schools Board (RSB) Individual Networks Government Regulations

Mercy College21 The organisation Transparency and accountability Learning and teaching Curriculum referenced documentation School organisation via mydesktop, (policies and practices) MyClasses: learning environment, portals for sharing best practices

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Mercy College23 Eg Leadership meetings, staff meetings, Heads of learning meetings, Faculty meetings, subject team level meetings Mentoring, (formally between POLS online forum, leadership contribute) WOW Professional learning seminars, all staff participate Formal POL development Professional learning

Mercy College24 Where are we headed? School improvement agenda Evaluation How well are we meeting our goals and objectives? How successful are our strategies? Evidence collated Future - ?

Mercy College25 Force Field Analysis Identify the focus / goal / evidence of achievement Invite the relevant voices Connect to external factors / internal practices Make room for the ‘why nots’ early on Address procedures and actions to enable action

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Mercy College27 Other tools Learning environment scan Hedgehog

Mercy College28 Task / Objective Name: Activity:

Mercy College29 Individually Teacher librarian models sharing of knowledge Catalogue Curriculum referenced information literacy Library webpages Pathfinders Collaborative planning Professional development

Mercy College30 Pilot project Make knowledge management a goal Work towards your own pilot project Submit a proposal to leadership (examples) Facilitating resources better throughout the school using online platforms Establish best practices portal, could be in MyClasses Make your operations manual an online document

Mercy College31 Communities of practice Community – joint discussions, building relationships The practice – members are practioners Developing shared repertoire of resources, and experiences, manages explicit, tacit and dynamic aspects of knowledge creation & sharing

Mercy College32 “Creates a direct link between learning and performance” Doesn’t have to be limited by formal structures Allows us to manage knowledge strategically Operate internally and externally