Leading With Passion and Knowledge
Purchase
Description
"The most important work of the school leader is to promote profound levels of learning in students and faculty, but only principals who know how to promote their own learning on the job can foster the learning of others. Here's how!"
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center
"Finally, a book for administrators that validates their role in the area of action research! All administrator preparation programs should use this book."
—Margarete Couture, Principal
South Seneca Central School District, Interlaken, NY
Become the "head learner" in your school by engaging in action research!
While much has been written about the effectiveness of action research for improving the practice of teachers, few resources exist for leading principals through the process to strengthen their professional development and their role in school improvement efforts.
Best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Fichtman Dana guides principals in identifying and exploring areas of interest for research, including staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, community/culture building, leadership skills, building management, and school performance. With a step-by-step approach, this resource:
- Helps principals develop a question, collect and analyze data, and share the results of their inquiry with school faculty, the district, and the broader education community
- Includes numerous examples of actual principal inquiry to illustrate each step of the research process
- Provides exercises to guide principals through their own inquiry projects
Use this proven method of professional development to continually cultivate your craft and improve school performance!
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
List of Figures and Tables
Foreword by Michael Fullan
Foreword by Michael Fullan
Preface
Preface
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
- 1. Administrator Inquiry Defined
- What Is Administrator Inquiry?
- How Is Administrator Inquiry or Action Research Different From Traditional Educational Research?
- What Is the Relationship Between Administrator Inquiry and Principal Professional Growth?
- What Are the Benefits of Engaging in Inquiry?
- How Do I Find Time to Engage in Inquiry as a Principal?
- What Are Some Contexts That Are Ripe for Principal Inquiry?
- Chapter 1 Exercises
- 2. The Passions That Drive Your Journey: Finding a Wondering
- Where Do I Find My Wonderings and Questions?
- Some Cautionary Notes
- Chapter 2 Exercises
- 3. The Road Map: Developing a Data Collection Plan
- Data Collection Strategy 1: Quantitative Measures of Student Achievement (Standardized Test Scores, Assessment Measures, Grades)
- Data Collection Strategy 2: Fieldnotes
- Data Collection Strategy 3: Interviews
- Data Collection Strategy 4: Documents/Artifacts/Student Work
- Data Collection Strategy 5: Digital Pictures
- Data Collection Strategy 6: Video
- Data Collection Strategy 7: Reflective Journals and/or Weblogs
- Data Collection Strategy 8: Surveys
- Data Collection Strategy 9: Literature
- When Do I Collect Data, and How Much Do I Collect?
- Chapter 3 Exercises
- 4. The Navigation of Uncertain Terrain: Analyzing Data
- Confront the Data Analysis Task
- Take Control of the Data Analysis Task by Keeping It Simple
- Follow Four Steps to Data Analysis
- Have Colleagues Help in the Process
- An Illustration of the Data Analysis Process
- Chapter 4 Exercises
- 5. The Travelogue: Sharing Your Work With Others
- Why Is It Important to Share My Work With Others?
- With Whom Do I Share My Work?
- How Do I Share My Work?
- What's Important to Share?
- Chapter 5 Exercises
- 6. The Continuing Journey as "Head Learner": Assessing the Quality of Inquiry
- Why Is It Important to Assess the Quality of My Work?
- What Is the Difference Between Generalizability and Transferability?
- How Do I Go About Assessing Practitioner Research Quality, and Why Is It So Difficult to Do
- What Are Some Quality Indicators for Practitioner Research?
- What Are Some Ways of Enhancing Inquiry Quality?
- Chapter 6 Exercises
References
References
Index
Index
Description
"The most important work of the school leader is to promote profound levels of learning in students and faculty, but only principals who know how to promote their own learning on the job can foster the learning of others. Here's how!"
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center
"Finally, a book for administrators that validates their role in the area of action research! All administrator preparation programs should use this book."
—Margarete Couture, Principal
South Seneca Central School District, Interlaken, NY
Become the "head learner" in your school by engaging in action research!
While much has been written about the effectiveness of action research for improving the practice of teachers, few resources exist for leading principals through the process to strengthen their professional development and their role in school improvement efforts.
Best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Fichtman Dana guides principals in identifying and exploring areas of interest for research, including staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, community/culture building, leadership skills, building management, and school performance. With a step-by-step approach, this resource:
- Helps principals develop a question, collect and analyze data, and share the results of their inquiry with school faculty, the district, and the broader education community
- Includes numerous examples of actual principal inquiry to illustrate each step of the research process
- Provides exercises to guide principals through their own inquiry projects
Use this proven method of professional development to continually cultivate your craft and improve school performance!
Contents
List of Figures and Tables
List of Figures and Tables
Foreword by Michael Fullan
Foreword by Michael Fullan
Preface
Preface
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
- 1. Administrator Inquiry Defined
- What Is Administrator Inquiry?
- How Is Administrator Inquiry or Action Research Different From Traditional Educational Research?
- What Is the Relationship Between Administrator Inquiry and Principal Professional Growth?
- What Are the Benefits of Engaging in Inquiry?
- How Do I Find Time to Engage in Inquiry as a Principal?
- What Are Some Contexts That Are Ripe for Principal Inquiry?
- Chapter 1 Exercises
- 2. The Passions That Drive Your Journey: Finding a Wondering
- Where Do I Find My Wonderings and Questions?
- Some Cautionary Notes
- Chapter 2 Exercises
- 3. The Road Map: Developing a Data Collection Plan
- Data Collection Strategy 1: Quantitative Measures of Student Achievement (Standardized Test Scores, Assessment Measures, Grades)
- Data Collection Strategy 2: Fieldnotes
- Data Collection Strategy 3: Interviews
- Data Collection Strategy 4: Documents/Artifacts/Student Work
- Data Collection Strategy 5: Digital Pictures
- Data Collection Strategy 6: Video
- Data Collection Strategy 7: Reflective Journals and/or Weblogs
- Data Collection Strategy 8: Surveys
- Data Collection Strategy 9: Literature
- When Do I Collect Data, and How Much Do I Collect?
- Chapter 3 Exercises
- 4. The Navigation of Uncertain Terrain: Analyzing Data
- Confront the Data Analysis Task
- Take Control of the Data Analysis Task by Keeping It Simple
- Follow Four Steps to Data Analysis
- Have Colleagues Help in the Process
- An Illustration of the Data Analysis Process
- Chapter 4 Exercises
- 5. The Travelogue: Sharing Your Work With Others
- Why Is It Important to Share My Work With Others?
- With Whom Do I Share My Work?
- How Do I Share My Work?
- What's Important to Share?
- Chapter 5 Exercises
- 6. The Continuing Journey as "Head Learner": Assessing the Quality of Inquiry
- Why Is It Important to Assess the Quality of My Work?
- What Is the Difference Between Generalizability and Transferability?
- How Do I Go About Assessing Practitioner Research Quality, and Why Is It So Difficult to Do
- What Are Some Quality Indicators for Practitioner Research?
- What Are Some Ways of Enhancing Inquiry Quality?
- Chapter 6 Exercises
References
References
Index
Index
Reviews
Leading With Passion and Knowledge
The Principal as Action Researcher
March 2009 | 240 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/01/2025 | 9781412967051 | $41.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/01/2025 | 9781452273266 | $38.00 |
"The most important work of the school leader is to promote profound levels of learning in students and faculty, but only principals who know how to promote their own learning on the job can foster the learning of others. Here's how!"
—Roland S. Barth, Founding Director
Harvard Principals' Center
"Finally, a book for administrators that validates their role in the area of action research! All administrator preparation programs should use this book."
—Margarete Couture, Principal
South Seneca Central School District, Interlaken, NY
Become the "head learner" in your school by engaging in action research!
While much has been written about the effectiveness of action research for improving the practice of teachers, few resources exist for leading principals through the process to strengthen their professional development and their role in school improvement efforts.
Best-selling and award-winning author Nancy Fichtman Dana guides principals in identifying and exploring areas of interest for research, including staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, community/culture building, leadership skills, building management, and school performance. With a step-by-step approach, this resource:
- Helps principals develop a question, collect and analyze data, and share the results of their inquiry with school faculty, the district, and the broader education community
- Includes numerous examples of actual principal inquiry to illustrate each step of the research process
- Provides exercises to guide principals through their own inquiry projects
Use this proven method of professional development to continually cultivate your craft and improve school performance!
Table Of Contents:
- List of Figures and Tables
- Foreword by Michael Fullan
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- 1. Administrator Inquiry Defined
- What Is Administrator Inquiry?
- How Is Administrator Inquiry or Action Research Different From Traditional Educational Research?
- What Is the Relationship Between Administrator Inquiry and Principal Professional Growth?
- What Are the Benefits of Engaging in Inquiry?
- How Do I Find Time to Engage in Inquiry as a Principal?
- What Are Some Contexts That Are Ripe for Principal Inquiry?
- Chapter 1 Exercises
- 2. The Passions That Drive Your Journey: Finding a Wondering
- Where Do I Find My Wonderings and Questions?
- Some Cautionary Notes
- Chapter 2 Exercises
- 3. The Road Map: Developing a Data Collection Plan
- Data Collection Strategy 1: Quantitative Measures of Student Achievement (Standardized Test Scores, Assessment Measures, Grades)
- Data Collection Strategy 2: Fieldnotes
- Data Collection Strategy 3: Interviews
- Data Collection Strategy 4: Documents/Artifacts/Student Work
- Data Collection Strategy 5: Digital Pictures
- Data Collection Strategy 6: Video
- Data Collection Strategy 7: Reflective Journals and/or Weblogs
- Data Collection Strategy 8: Surveys
- Data Collection Strategy 9: Literature
- When Do I Collect Data, and How Much Do I Collect?
- Chapter 3 Exercises
- 4. The Navigation of Uncertain Terrain: Analyzing Data
- Confront the Data Analysis Task
- Take Control of the Data Analysis Task by Keeping It Simple
- Follow Four Steps to Data Analysis
- Have Colleagues Help in the Process
- An Illustration of the Data Analysis Process
- Chapter 4 Exercises
- 5. The Travelogue: Sharing Your Work With Others
- Why Is It Important to Share My Work With Others?
- With Whom Do I Share My Work?
- How Do I Share My Work?
- What's Important to Share?
- Chapter 5 Exercises
- 6. The Continuing Journey as "Head Learner": Assessing the Quality of Inquiry
- Why Is It Important to Assess the Quality of My Work?
- What Is the Difference Between Generalizability and Transferability?
- How Do I Go About Assessing Practitioner Research Quality, and Why Is It So Difficult to Do
- What Are Some Quality Indicators for Practitioner Research?
- What Are Some Ways of Enhancing Inquiry Quality?
- Chapter 6 Exercises
- References
- Index