Overview:

This exciting new conference stream is designed to support aspiring teacher leaders and those currently in leadership positions.  It provides a day-long sequence of workshops which identify and unpack research-informed practices and approaches to school improvement and what this implies about effective leadership.

Outcomes:

Participants will:

• Gain exposure to current research and practice in relation to school improvement

• Explore the implications of research in their own context

• Make connections with other teacher leaders

Facilitators: Dr Chris Payard & Julie Murkins

Tickets

Tickets include arrival tea/coffee, morning tea, buffet lunch and a Certificate of Attendance (mapped to APST).

8:30 - 8:45

Welcome & introductions

8:45 – 9:00

Our orientation

The first module establishes a framer in which to situate our leadership. Subsequent modules explore other aspects of leadership in relation to this framer.

Participants are asked to identify (and subsequently ‘track’) a school-based challenge from their own setting, reflecting deeply on current practices and approaches, applying new knowledge and skills to that challenge as the modules are unpacked.

Module 1

9:00 - 10:00

Working in the Complexity

• Exploring complexity and systems thinking as influencers on our work as leaders

• Consideration of the implications for our school improvement journeys

This module exposes participants to current evidence-based theories and constructs which seek to describe the emergent challenges facing school leaders. Using a social constructivist approach, the module will orientate participants to the theories and allow for the drawing of connections to own contexts. We will share perspectives and reflect, consolidate and plan for action in the light of new knowledge and understanding.

Prerequisites:  Participants are asked to bring along their school’s current strategic improvement plan and/or annual action plan.

10:00 - 10:30

Morning tea

Module 2

10:30- 11:30

Cultivating collective efficacy  (CE)

• Conceptual framework exploring the mindsets, skillsets and toolsets

• Exploring the links to leadership capabilities

Given the ascribed impact CE can have on improving student learning outcomes, this module explores current research describing conditions conducive to CE. Participants will draw upon their own experiences of leaders and leadership; and consider their own capabilities when fostering professional growth in others.

Prerequisites: Participants are asked to bring along their current school’s professional appraisal approach. 

Module 3

11:30 – 12:30

Using evidence-informed improvement tools

• Exploring the domains of highly effective school leadership

• Consideration of how to create schoolwide evidence-informed approaches to improved student learning and wellbeing outcomes

Using ACER’s School Improvement Tool (SIT) and the Principal Performance Improvement Tool (PPIT), participants will explore the practices of effective leadership and how leaders grow the effectiveness of their teachers.

Prerequisites:  Participants will be provided with copies of the SIT and the PPIT. 

12:30 - 1:30

Lunch

Module 4

1:30 – 3:00

Approaching implementation

• Making explicit the links between strategic leadership and effective implementation of strategies

• Evaluating widely used implementation approaches

Participants will explore what constitutes effective implementation of improvement strategies. In assessing various approaches, and by reflecting on lived experiences of implementing strategies in schools, participants will be asked to consider dosage, fidelity, quality and acceptability (Albers et al 2017) as measures of effectiveness.

Prerequisites:  Nil.

Module 5

3:00 – 3:45

Synthesis

• Consolidation of a response to a contextual challenge

• Collaborating to adjust/finetune next steps

Participants will return to their current challenge and using a placemat, further unpack leadership for improvement.  Collaborating with others, there is an opportunity to apply the learnings gained at this workshop.

Prerequisites:  Specific contextual challenge.

3:45 – 4:00

Wrapping up

Discussion of ongoing networking and professional learning.