Can East Lothian Schools be Learning Organisations? February 18, 2008
Posted by Bill in : Dissertation, Learning Organisations , trackback
I have been taking some leave to get some work done on my MSc dissertation. I have finally put finishing touches on proposal and have been working on the methodology for the study . During my reading i have noted that many works consider that schools are “institutions of learning” however they are often “incapable of innovation”(Senge) due to structural barriers and are unable to become learning organisations themselves. As an EL education employee you may disagree..
What I hope to do is (In summary);
” The author intends to in this study examine and identify the key characteristics of learning organisations and select an appropriate diagnostic tool to collect data within the author’s organisation (Scottish Local Education Authority) and by further analysis examine the question of whether educational establishments can become learning organisations. The findings will also consider the application of the selected diagnostic tool in terms of it’s potential to support Outdoor Management Development Courses”
I intend to use a diagnostic tool in the form of a questionnaire which will give holistic data on where the organisation (East Lothian Education) measures up on some of the key traits of learning organisations. The sampling will be on purposive basis i.e. non probability and I intend to the questionnaire out to a;
- Secondary School
- Primary School
- Education support staff and management (JMH)
I realise it will be with school or department approval and will of course keep the questionnaire to a manageable form and hopefully get it in staff in trays at an appropriate time - I realise the timing will be unique for all of the above.
The data could prove to be useful for future training and development within East Lothian as well as for my own aim in identifying whether educational establishments can become learning organisations and whether findings could support content on OMD style courses. It may also assist helping shape future revolutions / visions of EL Education?
Although I have approached in principal with Education Management it will be up to the schools as to whether they will allow me to distribute the survey. I have had one or two agree on principal but would welcome any volunteer schools.
IS YOUR SCHOOL A LEARNING ORGANISATION?
Comments»
Interesting, Bill! Best of luck.
We’ve found one barrier to institutional change / innovation here is a sense that the ‘flavor of the week’ is a bad thing, and education basically doesn’t need to change.
I tend to disagree with that premise, but I’ll be curious to see what your research turns up!
Hans I will keep you posted. It depends on just how much feedback I can obtain n terms of survey. I’m still trying to decide whether I do an On-line one or paper based one direct to individuals. Have you used an on-line survey/questionnaire before?