1. Toronto Regional SIM Session Oct 16-17, 2012
My Leadership Role –In Improving Student Achievement through “Theory of Action”
Toronto Regional SIM Session
Oct 16-17, 2012

2. Welcome to this Break-Out Session
Agenda:
What is LSA? Quick overview
Viewing of LSA video (Ken Leithwood)
Let’s investigate the 4 paths
Rational
Emotional
Organizational
Family
What is a THEORY OF ACTION
Connecting our SIM Work to:
* a Theory of Action
* a LSA path

3. Your Reflection Template
On your table you will find a template
Please use it to record your thinking during the session.

4. 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

5. Leadership and Student Learning
After teaching,
the second most influential factor on student learning is leadership
(shared; formal and informal).
Ken Leithwood 5 5

6. The Principal’s Role

7. LSA THEORY OF ACTION

8. Theory of Action Overview
Video available

9. LSA Theory of Action Paper
How the Leading Student Achievement Project Improves Student Learning: An Evolving Theory of Action
February 2010
Kenneth Leithwood

10. 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

11. Let’s uncover the meaning of “Theory of Action” ?

12. Algorithm for “Theory of Action”
GOAL ( intended outcome )
+ Problem of practice (inquiry)
Theory of Action
(If… Then…)

13. Destination = improved student achievement
car =
vehicle travelling down the roadway = the theory of action
Road conditions =our daily reality of the world of education
Roadway = Leithwood’s 4 pathways

14. Our Analogy… We ride our theory of action
down one of the 4 pathways / roadways towards our destination
of improved student learning.

15. Our GPS guides our journey = our data and other evidence
(e.g., student learning, conditions for learning,

16. Let’s look at an example of a “Theory of Action”

17. Refining our inquiry - draft a question…
A theory of action… 17 17

18. Good Inquiry Questions:
are significant to classroom practice
lead to action
are feasible in terms of time, effort, and resources
are open-ended with many answers possible 18

19. Cause & Effect IF
What teachers are
going to do/have
students do…
THEN
What students are going to learn and/or demonstrate
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.

20. 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?

21. 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?

22. 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)

23. In closing… go alone If you want to go far go together…
If you want to go fast
go alone
If you want to go far
go together…
African Proverb

24. Questions/Answers/Feedback
Are there any outstanding questions?
Was this session helpful in framing your work within your school/board?