School Vision Plan and Development
clw0dq8
week_6_instructor_guidance.docxWeek 6 Instructor Guidance
Congratulations on achieving all you have in the class thus far! We are now entering the final week of the course. By now, you should feel ready to start working on your own vision. This week you will get an opportunity to do just that! WEEKLY LEARNING OUTCOMES As with prior weeks, let’s begin this guidance by first reviewing and reflecting on our learning expectations for the week. This outcome is aligned with both the discussion and assignment for Week 6, which are explained in brief next and in full detail on our Week 6 page.
· Design a program, plan, or activity involving teaching and learning consistent with school vision.
WEEK 6 – OVERVIEW Give yourself a round of applause! Over the past five weeks you have really dived into all the steps necessary to create a successful school vision. It is in this final week that all your learning from the course and practical prior experience with visions gets exercised as we move toward creation of a vision statement in the discussion and aggregate your learning in the final assignment for our class. Discussion: The Creating your own School Vision discussion is your chance to create a vision statement by thinking about all the things you have learned in the course and your practical experience with vision statements and then writing an original vision statement. Assignment: The School Vision Plan and Development assignment is an accumulation of all your coursework and learning in this class. As with prior assignments, it is advised that you review the Grading Rubric to understand what performances are expected for each criterion you will be evaluated on for this assignment. INTELLECTUAL ELABORATION School Visions You now understand that a school vision is the glue that holds a school together; it has the potential to inspire learning, teaching, and forward thinking from all school stakeholders. If the vision is to be an inspiration in the school, should it be placed on a plain sheet of paper with one paragraph? Below are just a few examples of how a vision can be expressed visually. Using the Google Images search engine, you could search for “Vision Statement” and browse other results for visual representations of visions.Google Images.
Castlemilk High School, Glasgow Scotland
Pencoed Primary School, Ysgol Gynradd, Pencoed
Brynmill Primary School Pk -1st, Victoria BC Canada
Final Thoughts As you round the corner in completing this course, Shared Vision of Learning, think about all the things you have learned and can now put into place at your school or organization. In week one you discussed effective leadership, and how your leadership reflects who you are and what you do every day. You thought about how to overcome challenges that we face as teachers and leaders. Drew Dudley (2012, Feb) gives an amazing inspirational talk on what it means to be a leader and how, as leaders, we have all changed someone’s life. Think about that statement “changed someone’s life” and how a school vision statement changes the learning and life of all stakeholders. Sometimes, we can devalue the importance of our positions as teachers and administrators. Dudley (2012, Feb) has us looking at the small things we do and how they can create a ripple effect in one person’s life. In week two you discussed the need to justify why we change vision statements and compared different vision statements. When we compare different vision statements we are able to make connections between our local communities and the nation. We see that the vision of all schools should focus first and foremost on the students, and then the school as a whole. The discussion of including stakeholders’ key values and beliefs when creating a school vision was the main focus for week 3. You discussed how you would identify key stakeholders in the school and planned activities so the stakeholders involved in the school vision would feel valued in the process. This really is key when dealing with the community, regardless of what they are doing in the school. Stakeholders need to see value in what they are doing for the school (Williams & Chavkin, 2004). Don’t we all need to feel valued and appreciated to continue doing something in our lives? In weeks 4 and 5 you worked in mock PLC groups to:
· Select technologies that facilitate the development and dissemination of the school’s vision.
· Describe resources that will be needed to implement the school vision.
· Utilize resources supporting implementation and maintenance of proposed programs or activities, ensuring the vision is in concert with school culture (needs, interests).
· Analyze data (i.e. surveys, observation) representing the diverse interests, viewpoints, and needs of stakeholders.
By doing this, you were given a firsthand opportunity to feel what it will be like for the stakeholders with whom you choose to work on creating a school vision. In your mock PLC you chose a leader and worked together to complete the assignment for the week. And finally, we come to week six where you will be putting all the learning from this course into a final document: Your Vision Statement. Take what you have learned and share it with your colleagues. Get involved in creating and modifying an existing vision. Think about how you want the vision to stand out and really reflect the school, community, and stakeholders that created the inspirational vision.
References Dudley, D. (2012, February). Everyday leadership [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership.html
Learning Outcomes This week students will:
1. Design a program, plan, or activity involving teaching and learning consistent with school vision.
Introduction
In the Marzano, Waters and McNulty (2005) text and Gabriel and Farmer (2009) text, as well as other resources you have read in this course, they discuss how effective vision statements become a part of the everyday life and culture of the school. When the vision is part of the school culture all stakeholders of the school inspire to achieve the desired future of the school. The vision becomes a part of the vocabulary and conversations of all stakeholders at the school. There becomes an expectation for learning and doing whatever is necessary to ensure the vision occurs. There are processes and procedures in place to monitor implementation of new practices and measure and evaluate results. In this final week you will have mastered all the Program and Course Learning Outcomes for this course. You will have worked to describe, identify, justify and complete all of the course objectives as well. In this final week, you will put everything you have learned into one cumulative project and create your own school vision.
1. Gabriel, J., & Farmer, P. (2009). How to help your school thrive without breaking the bank. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
2. Kose, B. W. (2011). Developing a transformative school vision: Lessons from peer nominated principals. Education & Urban Society, 43(2), 119-136. Retrieved from the ERIC database in the Ashford University Library.
3. Marzano, R., Waters, T., & McNulty, B. (2005). School leadership that works: From research to results. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Discussion Assignment:
To participate in the following discussions, go to this week's Discussion link in the left navigation.
Creating Your Own School Vision This discussion is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability with the objective Design a program, plan, or activity involving teaching and learning consistent with school vision.Additionally, this discussion is your opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the Course Learning Outcome 1 and it reinforces MAED Program Learning Outcomes 2, 5, 6, and 7. As you have learned throughout this course a school vision shares a dream and direction that other people want to share and follow. A school vision summarizes the actions, beliefs, values and goals of the school. In this week’s discussion you will be creating your own vision statement. This will cumulate all of your studies so far in this course. Have fun creating your vision; create something that speaks to you as a learner, teacher and leader. Initial Post Your initial post will include the following three areas:
1. Create a school vision statement.
2. Reflect on the process of creating the school vision.
3. Describe any challenges associated with creating the vision.
Guided Response: Post replies to at least two peers before the close date of this discussion. In your replies, consider asking questions of peers about their responses to encourage further conversation. Identify similarities and differences between your peer’s vision and your own. Reflect on similar learning experiences regarding the process of creating a vision statement. Though two replies is the basic expectation, for deeper engagement and learning, you are encouraged to provide responses to any comments or questions others have given to you (including the instructor) before the last day of the discussion; this will further the conversation while also giving you opportunities to demonstrate your content expertise, critical thinking, and real world experiences with this topic.
Final Paper
To complete the following final paper, go to this week's Final Paper link in the left navigation.
School Vision Plan and Development This assignment is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to meet all weekly objectives in this class and ensures you are able to apply all your skills to create a shared vision from beginning to end. Additionally, the assignment will be your opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the five Course Learning Outcomes and mastery of the Masters of Arts in Education Program Learning Outcomes Two, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, and Nine. Recall that a school vision represents the core values and beliefs of the school -- it draws people together to work on one shared goal. All involved must see the benefit of developing such a vision and be determined to see that it is reflected in the values and teaching beliefs of the school. A vision is like a force field of shared beliefs that draws people to work together, creating an environment that promotes and aspires to attain 21st Century skills. This final assignment will call on you to apply all you have learned about leadership and creating a vision statement throughout the course, thereby demonstrating your mastery of each weekly objective for the course. Using what you have learned in the Marzano, Waters & McNulty (2005) text and the Gabriel & Farmer (2009) text, as well as other resources along the way, you will plan and develop the process for creating a vision statement. Content
· Abstract: Summarize the key themes as well as the purpose of the paper in 150-250 words.
· Leadership: Define personal leadership style and discuss how personal leadership style will facilitate the process of creating a school vision in one to two pages.
· Stakeholders: Identify and discuss all required aspects of including stakeholders in the creation of a school vision.
· Data: In two pages, summarize the types of data to be used to ensure the vision is focused on school improvement goals, is based on school demographic needs, is reflective of the whole school community and that FERPA requirements are being followed for data dissemination.
· Technology: Discuss the technology that will be used to create, manage and distribute the vision and explain how the vision will be distributed to all stakeholders in the school before, during and after the planning process in one to two pages.
· Budget: Explain the budgetary needs for creation and distribution of the vision before, during and after the planning process in one to two pages.
· Teaching: Identify how to disseminate and ensure all stakeholders adopt the vision statement in one to two pages.
· Vision Statement: Create a personal vision statement, reflect on the process, identify any challenges associated with creating a vision statement, and discuss what was learned from creating a vision statement in two to three pages.
Written Communication
· Page Requirement: 11-16 pages, not including title, abstract, and reference pages.
· APA Formatting: Use APA formatting consistently throughout the paper. It is recommended you use the content area labels as headings for each section of your paper.
· Syntax and Mechanics: Display meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Your written work should contains no errors and be very easy to understand.
· Source Requirement: Uses no less than seven scholarly sources in addition to the course textbook, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page need to be used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Writing the Final Paper The Final Paper:
a. Must be 11 to 16 double-spaced pages in length (not including the title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
b. Must include a title page with the following:
· Title of paper
· Student’s name
· Course name and number
· Instructor’s name
· Date submitted
c. Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
d. Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
e. Must contain a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
f. Must document at least seven sources, in addition to the text, using APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
g. Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your assignment.
