The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Abstract

Sample Comments from Teachers in Participating Schools:

• "The strength of the IDEAS Framework is that it taps into the reality of school life and operations"
• "Teachers readily interact with the Dimensions of the Framework. It is highly discussible."
• "The Framework is an interesting concept. The more you use it the more layers you uncover to help explain and understand the complexities of school life."
• "I haven't seen anything better for organizing strategic planning at the school level."

What forms of professional learning are suited to the needs of the post-industrial teaching profession? What are we doing to encourage authentic professional dialogue amongst the professionals in our schools? What about a common professional language? How do we create school wide, pedagogies?

This paper addresses questions such as these by presenting school case studies relating to a highly successful school revitalisation in Queensland, the IDEAS Project. It includes examples of teacher conversations, school wide pedagogies (e.g. Literacy), and Strategic Plans all within the context of consultative and collaborative processes. IDEAS is premised on three principles:

• that teachers can be leaders in the truest sense of the word;
• that school improvement can be achieved through teacher-led
  revitalisation that focuses on creation of school-wide pedagogy;
• that coherence and alignment can be created in school organisation and
  structures through processes that engage teachers as leaders.

IDEAS is a product of a very fruitful three-year partnership between the University of Southern Queensland's Leadership Research Institute and Education Queensland.

Bionote

Currently a Principal Education Officer-Performance Measurement and IDEAS Facilitator with Education Queensland, Allan's major work lies around school capacity building particularly in the context of Strategic Planning. He works closely with 38 District Primary and Secondary schools in this role. His teaching career has spanned primary and secondary teaching, including 11 years as a High School Deputy Principal.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
Data Projector
Will bring own computer


Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Australia