ERIC Number: EJ1085964
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Feb
Pages: 42
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0013-161X
EISSN: N/A
Poco a Poco: Leadership Practices Supporting Productive Communities of Practice in Schools Serving the New Mainstream
Scanlan, Martin; Kim, Minsong; Burns, Mary Bridget; Vuilleumier, Caroline
Educational Administration Quarterly, v52 n1 p3-44 Feb 2016
Purpose: Culturally and linguistically diverse students frequently do not receive equitable educational opportunities. Schools across public and private sectors that are striving to ameliorate this problem typically work in isolation, not collaboratively. This article examines how communities of practice emerge within a network of schools striving to effectively educate these students. Data Collection and Analysis: We employ qualitative case study methodology drawing data from relational network survey data, archival documents, interpersonal communications, and field notes. In cycles of coding, we analyze these data to identify the learning architecture that structures the communities of practice within this network. Findings: First, we found the emergent communities of practice were extemporaneous, tentative, and localized. Second, we found that applying the learning architecture shed light on the nature of the learning within these communities of practice. In this case, it revealed that the communities of practice (a) enjoyed relatively strong levels of participation but relatively ineffective reifications, (b) experienced a dynamic tension between local and global influences, and (c) allowed individuals to negotiate new identities in varied and complex manners. Conclusions: This study shows the messiness that unfolds as school leaders pursue organizational learning toward the end of improving educational opportunities for culturally and linguistically diverse students, and how the learning architecture framework can help school leaders make sense of and respond to this in a nuanced manner.
Descriptors: Student Diversity, Communities of Practice, Qualitative Research, Case Studies, Surveys, Archives, Documentation, Coding, Leadership Responsibility, Instructional Leadership, Limited English Speaking, Student Needs, Culturally Relevant Education, Networks, Catholic Schools, Elementary Schools, Longitudinal Studies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A