Learning Centers Management and Leadership through Action Research By Tem Fuller

8th ATP Conference

Seattle

2012

1. The anatomy of innovation

2. Action Research, Total Quality Management, PDSA and Critical Thinking

3. Double Loop Learning

4. Research in action

Action Research &Climate and Culture of Innovation

1. Define Indicators of Performance & Metrics The space remembers Write the flow of ideas down. Write down everything.

(Kelley and Littman, 2001, p. 56)

2. Collect Data from the Population Innovation begins with an eye

3. Localize Problematic Area/s of Tutoring A Cool Company Needs Hot Groups

4. Define Variables & Measurement Instruments

5. Select Intervention or Innovation

6. Develop a Plan {Set of Executable Actions} Live the Future

7. Act The first prototype will be …

8. Collect & Analyze Data

9. Continue Have fun Kelley and Littman, 2001

TEAM

WORK

Skeptical START

Brass Band &

Fireworks

We don’t have time to work

This is taking too

much time

THE DARK NIGHT OF

THE INNOVATOR

2003 2005 2007 2009 Years

Optimism

Let’s try it

Pessimism

Institutionalization

Innovation: a process of inventing or introducing something new

KnowledgeYear 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007 Year 2009

Percent Strongly Agree 32% 45% 37% 40%Percent Agree 17% 22% 17% 32%

Math and Science tutors are knowledgeable in the subject area they tutor.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Year 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007 Year 2009

Percent Strongly Agree

Percent Agree

Helping with ComputersYear 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007 Year 2009


Strong AgreementYear 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007

Math and Science Ttutors can help students learn by using appropriate computer software.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%



Percent Agree

They Care for StudentsYear 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007 Year 2009


Math and Science tutors care for students as individuals.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%



Percent Agree

VisionYear 2003 Year 2005 Year 2007 Year 2009


Math and Science tutors have a clear vision how they can contribute to students' education.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%



Percent Agree

*Critical Thinking

*Plan Do Study Act

*Action Research

*Total Quality Management

*“Total quality is a process that recognizes the total organization as a system including all internal and external parties.” (Capezio & Morehouse, p. 81, 1993)

*Dr. W. Edwards Deming: (1900-1993) is considered to be the Father of Modern Quality.

*Action Research and Total Quality Management for Educators

* The key component in both methods for quality improvement is change of decision making process

* Both methods are depersonalizing the reasons for the problems in education.

* Both methods work to involve front-line employees in a process in which the institutional “silos” are eroding.

*Action Research and Critical Thinking

* Both, critical thinking and action research are ways of reasoning and managing

*Double loop learning in organizations

*By uncovering their own hidden theories of action, managers can detect and correct errors.

How would you involve all tutors to act as innovators?

Discussion__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

__

How would you “safe the face” of a tutor who is not ready to act as an innovator?

Uncovering the Theory of ActionInnovative Tutoring

Governing variables of Model I:

*(1) Actors would like to define in their own terms the purpose of the situation in which they find themselves.

*(2) Winning and minimizing loses is a goal bigger than the effectiveness of the institution.

*(3) No feelings should be visible even if they exists.

*(4) Emphasize intellectual and deemphasize the emotional aspects of problems.

HiddenNonverbal Clues

HiddenNonverbal Clues

Personal Success

Personal Success

*Espoused Theory of Action

*Theory of Action in Use

Action Research and TQM are:* cyclical activities

* use both – deductive and inductive reasoning

* involve examination of existing processes

* create cross-functional teams as neded

* involve participation of the front-runners (Critical Thinking or PDSA)

* involve statistics – translate statistical results into simple scorecards or graphics

Kurt Lewin

Measures of Institutional Effectiveness

Gap-analysis

Measures of Institutional Effectiveness

Gap-analysis

Focus on Management and Leadership

Team Building + BenchmarkingTeam Building + Benchmarking

*(1) Use valid and reliable information

*(2) Use free and informed choices

*(3) Internal commitment

* Share control

* Let the group plan the execution (monitor for misconceptions)* Let the group select measurement instruments (assist with

validity and reliability)* Let the group execute the plan (monitor performance)* Let the informal leader emerged (help with sharing executive

power)

* Internal commitment to the choice and constant monitoring of the implementation

* Train your employees to collect and analyze data (but check for accuracy and timeliness)

* Meet with all employees and point out strength and weaknesses (be tactful and focus on data)

* Help the informal leader with ideas (but keep equal distance with all actors)

* Encourage public testing

*Uncover assumptions, norms and objectives under the surface inspection of values and behaviors.

*Allow confrontation

*Work together with your employees on measurement instruments of productivity

*Show the data to all employees

*People do what you inspect not what you expect

* What is the most difficult and sensitive problem in your department?

* Think about informal leader(s) in your department.

As a formal leader, I have four measures for informal leaders that I monitor.

* The informal leader should be knowledgeable in the area of tutoring. (weight 0.7)

* The informal leader should be able to help students with technologies. (weight 0.1)

* The informal leader should work with instructors as a team. (weight 0.1)

* The informal leader should have a clear vision for tutoring. (weight 0.1)

*Local loop (informal):*Form a team

*Plan together

*Prepare a form to test the plan

*Collect data

*The loop in the system (formal):*Test the plan in the system (?)*We will need a formal cross-functional process

* The formal leader needs informal leaders to help with the process of institutionalization

Skeptical START

Brass Band &

Fireworks

We don’t have time to work

This is taking too

much time

THE DARK NIGHT OF

THE INNOVATOR

2003 2005 2007 2009 Years

Optimism

Let’s try it

Pessimism

Institutionalization

ReferencesArgyris, C. (1982). Reasoning, Learning and Action. Individual and Organizational. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Capezio, P., & Morehouse, D. (1993). Taking the mystery out of TQM: Apractical guid to Total Quality Management. Hawthorne, NJ: Career Pres Inc.

Ferrance, E. (N/A). Action Research. Retrieved March 01 2011, from Themes in Education: http://www.alliance.brown.edu/pubs/themes_ed/act_research.pdf

Fuller, T., & Georgieva, O. (2007). A Workshop on Learning with Technologies. Retrieved January 31, 2011, from Learning Demand:

http://www.learningdemand.com/P2/TushiDea.htm

Infed. (2012, March 25). Retrieved from Lurt Lewin: groups, experiential learning and action research: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-lewin.htm

Kelley, T., & Littman, J. (2001). The Art of Innovation. New York: Random House, Inc.

Lilford, R., Warren, R., & Braunholtz, D. (2003). Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. Retrieved 03 17, 2012, from Action research: a way of readearching or a way of managing?:

http://jhsrp.rsmjournals.com/content/8/2/100.short

Ronchetto, J., & Buckles, T. (2011). Journal of Marketing Education., Developing Critical Thinking and Interpersonal Skills in a Services Marketing Course Employing Total Quality Management Concepts and

Techniques: Retrieved doi: 10.1177/027347539401600304 http://jmd.sagepub.com/content/16/3/20.short

Stringer, E. T. (1999). Action Research. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publication

The Critical Thinking Community. (2012, January 1). The State of Critical Thinking Today. Retrieved from The Critical Thinking Community: http://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/the-state-of-critical-thinking-

today/523

Thor, L. (1993) The human side of quality: Employee care and empowerment: (Paper presented at League for Innovation in the Community College's Conference in Irvine, CA). ERIC JC 930 084.

http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED354044.pdf

Documents

Learning Centers Management and Leadership through Action Research By Tem Fuller