PROF 540 Theme 5 - Within and Across Communities of learners

Earl, L., & Hannay, L. (2011). Educators as Knowledge Leaders. In J. Robertson & H. Timperley (Eds.), Leadership and Learning. London: SAGE Publications. Retrieved from http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=689462


What is this reading/text about?

The reading outlines how in the knowledge based economies and societies we now live in, educational leaders need to adopt the role of 'knowledge leaders'. The authors go on to describe this role in detail and give an example of how it might look when schools work together.

Applicability to Col aspirations?

This supports the approach we have taken already in forming the TP CoL (evidence based inquiries, collaboration, sharing learning with others etc). It supports the our belief that collaboration is a 'prerequisite' for sustaining educational change.

An interesting point raised for me was?

Key quote - p190 "knowledge work must become the core business of school leaders if innovation is to move beyond tinkering with the status quo". How often do we experience this 'tinkering' at schools where there is often an inertia preventing innovation to flourish?

The relevance for other lead teachers is?

The description of a knowledge leader (p193) is a pretty good summary of the tasks and attributes we should do/have:

Knowledge leaders:

• are learners
• use data and evidence to frame their discussions
• make tacit knowledge visible
• use both explicit and tacit knowledge to create new knowledge
• challenge their own mental models
• learn collaboratively through cycles of inquiry
• use their new knowledge for innovation
• validate their new knowledge in action
• share their learning with others in the organisation