Understanding Decision-Making in Educational Contexts: A Case Study Approach

✍ Scribed by Stephanie Chitpin

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing
• Year: 2021
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 193
• Series: Transforming Education Through Critical Leadership, Policy and Practice
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Understanding Decision-Making in Educational Contexts presents 'problem cases' confronting school leaders in real settings, and illustrates the multiple approaches that school leaders draw upon to navigate complex and challenging decision-making contexts. Although school leaders draw upon knowledge and instruments that are available to them, the approach used for this volume is decidedly Popperian in nature.

In this collection, each chapter presents a case study problem, a discussion of the salient concepts and principles of the case, an exploration of problem formulation, and concludes with a decision analysis using a Popperian approach to problem solving. Each chapter concludes with lessons learned and the expected decision-making skills acquired from the critical analysis of each educational challenge using the Objective Knowledge Growth Framework, a Popperian decision-making approach.

This book is essential reading for anyone who aspires to take on a leadership role in a school setting, or is curious to develop their understanding of leadership problems.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Understanding Decision-Making in Educational Contexts
Series Page
Understanding Decision-Making in Educational Contexts: A Case Study Approach
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
About the Author
Acknowledgement
Part I
1. Introduction
References
2. Overcoming Irrationality: The Popperian Approach
Introduction
How a Fire Led to a Study of Irrationality
Conjecture and Refutation
The Placebo Effect
The Tragedy of the Commons
Erosion of Trust: Popper's Approach
Applying Popper's Approach
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
3. Educational Leadership in Performative Times: High-Stakes Testing in England
Literature Review
Special Education Needs Support
Behavioural and Socioeconomic Obstacles
Leadership
Methods and Data
Participants
Findings
Collaboration versus Competition
Governmental Targets and Funding
Data Used by Leaders Are Reflective of Standardization
Discussion and Conclusion
References
4. Opportunities and Challenges in Leadership
School Context
Confirmation Bias and Spotlight Shifting
Popper's Influence in Educational Studies
The Objective Knowledge Framework: A Decision-Making Framework
Applying OKGF to Optimize Outcomes
Networking and Finding Someone Who Has Solved the Problem
The Courage to Learn
References
5. Great Expectations: The Achievement Gap in English Schools
School Funding and Curriculum Decisions
Ofsted: Roles and Responsibilities
The Education Inspection Framework
Policy Conceptualization
Methodology and Data Collection
Participants
Findings and Discussion
Achievement Gap
Low Aspirations and Parental Support
Differentiated and Targeted Solutions
Conclusion
References
Part II
6. Inside an Ivy League High School: The Problem with Promise, Passion and Pain
The Situation
The Impact
Mr Black's Professional Background
Mr Black's Response to Allegations
Verbal or Emotional Abuse
Authoritarian Approaches to Teaching
Summary
References
7. Licence Revocation of Teachers
The School
Principal Winter
The Complainant's Letter
Background: Mr Black
Plan of Action
Principal Winter's Gut Reaction
Providing a Safe Learning Environment
Confirmation Bias and Shifting Spotlight
The Objective Knowledge Growth Framework for Maximizing Outcomes
Exploring and Generating Tentative Solutions
Applying the OKGF Process
Case Analysis Questions
Appendix 2
References
8. Attendance Policy in Action
Wexler Collegiate
A School Non-attender
Analysis: Policy and Action
Applying Counter-induction in Attendance
Mental Models or Frames
Bolman and Deal's Four-Frame Model
Conclusion
References
9. A Tale of Two Learning Theories
School Background
The Principal: Mr Brown
The Teacher: Mrs Kotnam
Julian's Progress Report
Teacher Comments
Background and Contextual Information
Clinical Impression
Physical Competencies
Cognitive Competencies
Attention and Arousal
Analysis of Academic Functioning
Summary and Formulation
Recommendations of the Psychological Assessment Report
Popper's Theory of Learning
Popper's Trial and Error Elimination
Discussion
References
10. Rights and Freedoms
The Context
The Incident
Laying a Foundation for Change
The Town Hall Meeting
School Accommodation for Daily Prayer
The OKGF: A Decision-Making Framework
Using the OKGF to Maximize Outcomes
Conclusion
Appendix
Religious Accommodation for Islam
Daily Prayer
Friday Congregational Prayer
Observations of Islamic Holy Days
Islamic Holy Days
References
11. The Nature of Decision-making in School Leadership: An Epilogue
References
Index