PLANNING THE FIRST Planning the First Site Visit Dorainer Leak-Davis Capella University October 18, 2015 PLANNING THE FIRST Appreciative Inquiry will be used to build a cooperative capacity within the learning organization. As the Academic Coach at a Title I elementary school, various pieces of Appreciative Inquiry is necessary when working with staff members, parents, students and other stakeholders. Organizational learning is a process of individual and collective inquiry that modifies or constructs organizational theories-in-use and changes practice. The process of AI allows organizations the opportunity to reflect on the existing strengths of the organization that will lead them into the stage of discovering while building upon a collective vision for the future. Before beginning the AI process, it’s important for the researcher to familiarize themselves with individuals within the organization in which the process will take place. The questions during the interview helped to provide some information for the defining stage, which serves as the overarching meaning and focus of the study. The defining stage helps the researcher with getting buy-in and the support that is needed for the study. What are some of the high points within the organization? As the new Academic Coach within the school various observations have been made about teachers feels with new changes under a new school principal. In addition, levels of morale and satisfaction have been impacted by teacher’s feelings about the workplace (Evans, 1997). According to Maxwell (2008), “to work well with others, it helps to know what motivations make them tick,” (p. 790). Therefore, it has become imperative that leaders understand the needs of their teachers and do all they can to positively impact satisfaction among faculty members. Therefore, the morale of the staff must be improved through team building. PLANNING THE FIRST While many of the staff members are friendly, there are some who’s attitude and feelings are not held back as a result of the changes that have taken place for the new school year. The elementary school is a school that believes in ensuring that children are successful and treated equal. The school has been showing growth over the years on the end of the year test results. Teachers are working and providing learners with the instruction that is needed within the 21st Century. The school is meeting the 1:1 technology needs for students to have access to technology in classrooms for instruction. These initiatives also emphasize the use of 1:1 devices for teaching and learning (Muir, Manchester, & Moulton, 2005) to meet goals such as increasing equity of access to technology, updating teachers’ knowledge and skills to improve instructional quality, increasing student engagement, improving academic achievement and technology literacy, providing more effective learning opportunities for students with special needs, increasing economic competitiveness, and enhancing home-to-school connections. Learners are being prepared for college or career in grades K-5 within a Title I school. What is the vision for the future? The Capstone Project will address how school leaders can improve staff morale through the use of team building within today’s school climate with so many mandates. The elementary school staff has experienced a shift within the organization with both the Principal and the Assistant Principal at the school. The school climate is the driving force for student learning and should be a positive learning and working environment for all stakeholders. According Cohen and Michelli (2006), the sphere of the school life that may include the safety, environment and relations as well as the patterns of the larger part of the organization. The elementary school PLANNING THE FIRST climate has expectations, values and norms that is supportive to individual’s social, emotional and physical safety. However, communication and collaboration is imperative when making organizational changes. The key elements of an effective organization going through change are flexibility and a leader who is a coordinator, focuser, and facilitator. Moreover, individuals are respected and engaged. All stakeholders within the organization will work together to develop a shared vision that will allow learners to become productive citizens within society. Moreover, individuals within the organization will make contributions toward the operations of the school while ensuring that the physical environment is taken care of. As an educational leader, it is imperative that communication and collaboration is taking place not just with staff but with all stakeholders. Collaboration enables individuals to work together to achieve a defined and common business purpose. Operating a prison takes collaboration at various levels. Individuals within the agency are allowed to share and explain their ideas and feel as if they are a part of the decisions for the organization. In addition, collaboration has allowed teams to deliver results collectively, with each member performing their role, to their strengths. The increase of collaboration within our organization has helped to increase staff safety and make other organizational changes that is beneficial for all stakeholders. Ethical Issues Confidentiality and privacy are two ethical issues that the researcher needs to take into consideration. According to King (2000), participants should not be identified within the research study. Therefore, pseudonyms names will be used and any other identifying PLANNING THE FIRST information will be removed. In addition, privacy must be taken into consideration when it comes to having a private location to conduct the research. According to King (2000), participants should be in an environment where they feel free to speak and to protect their anonymity and confidentiality while not being able to be identified within findings. References Bebell, D., & O’Dwyer, L. M. (2010). Educational outcomes and research from 1:1 computing settings. Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment, 9(1), Retrieved October 15, 2015 from http://ejournals.bc.edu Collins, J. (2001). Good to Great. Retrieved on October 16, 2015 from books.google.com Cohen, J., & Michelli, N. M. (2006). Evaluating school climate: Promoting the skills, dispositions and a climate for democracy. National Network for Educational Renewal News, 6(1), 2–4. PLANNING THE FIRST Grogan, M. (Ed.). (2013). The Jossey-Bass reader on educational leadership (3rd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9781118456217. Hitt,M. (1998), Presidential address: Twenty-first century organizations: Business firms, business schools, and the academy. The Academy of Management Review ,23 (1998), pp. 218–224. Bennis, W., & Nanus. B. (2007). Leaders: Strategies for taking charge. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. King, N., & Churchill, L. (2000). Ethical principles guiding research in child and adolescent subjects. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 7, 710-724. Leithwood, K.A., & Riehl, C. (2003). What we know about successful school leadership. Philadelphia: Laboratory for Student Success, Temple University. Maxwell, J.C. (2008). Communication: A leader’s key to success. Leadership Wired, 11(2) 1-6. Muir, M., Knezek, G., & Christensen, R. (2004).The Maine Learning Technology Initiative: An Exploratory Study of the Impact of Ubiquitous Technology on Student Achievement . Retrieved from http://www.mcmel.org Senge, P.M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art & practice of the learning organization. New York, NY: Doubleday. Senge, P. , Cambron-McCabe, Lucas, T. Kleiner,A., Dutton,J. and Smith, B (2000). Schools that Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares about Education. Doubleday: New York. PLANNING THE FIRST Snyder, T. D., & Hoffman, C. M. (2002). Digest of education statistics 2001. Washington, DC, US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
