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The purpose of this article is to reflect upon a large-scale investment in professional learning communities, as a strategy for school and system improvement, in Wales. The article draws upon the international research evidence about... more
The purpose of this article is to reflect upon a large-scale investment in professional learning communities, as a strategy for school and system improvement, in Wales. The article draws upon the international research evidence about professional learning communities and considers issues of definition and impact. It also charts and reflects upon the progress of a system-wide approach to developing professional learning communities at scale. The article highlights that first, under the right conditions, professional learning communities have the potential to build professional capital. Secondly, it reinforces the need for rigorous and sustained implementation if a lasting impact is to be achieved. The article offers insights and reflections upon a significant investment in professional learning communities, in Wales, as a strategy for school and system improvement.
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This article outlines the progress and impact of the development of professional learning communities within, between and across schools, as part of the wider implementation of the School Effectiveness Framework in Wales. It outlines the... more
This article outlines the progress and impact of the development of professional learning communities within, between and across schools, as part of the wider implementation of the School Effectiveness Framework in Wales. It outlines the background to this development and describes the way in which professional learning communities have been developed to support school improvement. The article outlines the progress
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Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the way in which principals in different countries are securing successful organisational change through systematically building social capital. It argues that how a school works as a... more
Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the way in which principals in different countries are securing successful organisational change through systematically building social capital. It argues that how a school works as a cohesive unit and how people collaborates will ultimately define organisational performance.Design/methodology/approach– The paper draws upon the international literature to explore how principals are building the social capital for organisational improvement but is not a review of the literature. It adopts a cross-cultural perspective and explores collective capacity building for organisational improvement.Findings– This paper concludes that “disciplined” professional collaboration is an important way in which principals can create and sustain the social capital for organisational change.Originality/value– The paper is a conceptual piece that proposes that creating social capital, rather than individual or professional capital, is now an essential task...
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This article outlines the progress and impact of professional learning communities within, between and across schools, as part of the implementation of whole system reform in Wales. It describes the way in which professional learning... more
This article outlines the progress and impact of professional learning communities within, between and across schools, as part of the implementation of whole system reform in Wales. It describes the way in which professional learning communities are being developed to support improvement and change across the education system in Wales. The article focuses on a group of schools that piloted a model of professional learning communities that subsequently have become a key part of the reform process in Wales and it highlights some of the challenges faced by the schools in establishing and sustaining professional learning communities. The article concludes by suggesting that professional learning communities offer one way of generating changed professional practice that can positively contribute to system-wide improvement.
Research Interests: Sociology, Professional Development, Professional Learning Community, Distributed Leadership, Professional Learning, and 8 moreSchool Improvement, School Reform, School Effectiveness, Education Systems, Professional Learning Communities, Professional Practice, Education System, and system improvement
This paper explores the synergy between distributed leadership and digital collaborative learning. It argues that distributed leadership offers an important theoretical lens for understanding and explaining how digital collaboration is... more
This paper explores the synergy between distributed leadership and digital collaborative learning. It argues that distributed leadership offers an important theoretical lens for understanding and explaining how digital collaboration is best supported and led. Drawing upon evidence from two online educational platforms, the paper explores the challenges of leading and facilitating digital collaborative learning. The paper concludes that distributed leadership is integral to effective digital collaboration and is an important determinant of productive collaboration in a virtual environment.
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ABSTRACT This article explores the implications of the knowledge society for education and education systems. It focuses on how education systems in Asia are contributing to the development and sustainability of the knowledge society... more
ABSTRACT This article explores the implications of the knowledge society for education and education systems. It focuses on how education systems in Asia are contributing to the development and sustainability of the knowledge society through creating powerful professional learning communities. The article explores how professional collaboration, at scale, is being used to generate social capital in order to promote educational transformation and improvement. The article draws upon a range of theoretical perspectives to examine how professional learning communities are contributing to educational improvement and the construction of new knowledge. The article concludes by arguing that disciplined, collective and inter-dependent learning is critical for the knowledge society to be sustained.
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Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline the findings from a small-scale, exploratory, study of principals’ instructional leadership practice in Malaysian primary schools. The dimensions and functions of instructional... more
Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline the findings from a small-scale, exploratory, study of principals’ instructional leadership practice in Malaysian primary schools. The dimensions and functions of instructional leadership, explicitly explored in this study, are those outlined in the Hallinger and Murphy’s (1985) model.
This is the DCPL project report.