Making a Difference: The Educational Effectiveness and Improvement Field
by alma Harris
Occasionally, influential research findings find their moment in time, only to peak, trough and fade into oblivion. For the educational effectiveness and improvement research field, this has not been the case. The empiricists and theorists within this research tradition, including those who are members of Division A, remain a formidable intellectual force.
Since the early 1980s, the work of a wide range of international scholars including Sam Stringfield, Charles Teddlie, Bert Creemers, Anne Lieberman, Janet Chrispeels, Andy Hargreaves, Michael Fullan, David Reynolds, Daniel Muijs, Christopher Chapman, Karen Seashore Louis, Louise Stoll, Pam Sammons and Amanda Datnow has focused upon the central question of how to make schools, and latterly systems, more effective. The depth and rigor of the academic work in this field has provided a clear and powerful mandate for action and a clear message that school improvement is possible.
While some policy makers may have turned their attention elsewhere over the past few years, the international comparative assessments of performance such as PISA and TYMMs have sparked renewed interest in educational effectiveness and improvement. The evidence about effective schools, effective systems, effective pedagogy and effective classrooms is now of increasing interest to those seeking better educational outcomes and higher system performance.
For more than 30 years, the educational effectiveness and improvement partnership is one that has persisted and prevailed, despite some differences. The pedigree of the scholarly work and the reputation of the researchers working in this area continue to be of the highest quality. The relationship with Division A remains an important and integral one, as issues of organizational change and leadership are deeply connected to the intellectual make-up of the educational and effectiveness field.
As President of the ‘International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement’ (ICSEI) I take great pride in the fact that ICSEI 2015 will be in Cincinnati, USA. Not only is this a wonderful venue but the theme of ‘Think Globally Act Locally, Educating All Children to Their Full Potential’ reminds us all of the moral purpose that drives our collective work.
Without question every ICSEI Congress involves the collective effort and energy of the many; it is distributed leadership in action. But it also requires the vision and commitment of an individual to see this possibility in the first place. So my thanks to Sam Stringfield - you have made ICSEI 2015 both a possibility and a reality.
I look forward to welcoming Division A members to ICSEI, 2015 in Cincinnati.
Professor Alma Harris
ICSEI President
almaharris@um.edu.my
Since the early 1980s, the work of a wide range of international scholars including Sam Stringfield, Charles Teddlie, Bert Creemers, Anne Lieberman, Janet Chrispeels, Andy Hargreaves, Michael Fullan, David Reynolds, Daniel Muijs, Christopher Chapman, Karen Seashore Louis, Louise Stoll, Pam Sammons and Amanda Datnow has focused upon the central question of how to make schools, and latterly systems, more effective. The depth and rigor of the academic work in this field has provided a clear and powerful mandate for action and a clear message that school improvement is possible.
While some policy makers may have turned their attention elsewhere over the past few years, the international comparative assessments of performance such as PISA and TYMMs have sparked renewed interest in educational effectiveness and improvement. The evidence about effective schools, effective systems, effective pedagogy and effective classrooms is now of increasing interest to those seeking better educational outcomes and higher system performance.
For more than 30 years, the educational effectiveness and improvement partnership is one that has persisted and prevailed, despite some differences. The pedigree of the scholarly work and the reputation of the researchers working in this area continue to be of the highest quality. The relationship with Division A remains an important and integral one, as issues of organizational change and leadership are deeply connected to the intellectual make-up of the educational and effectiveness field.
As President of the ‘International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement’ (ICSEI) I take great pride in the fact that ICSEI 2015 will be in Cincinnati, USA. Not only is this a wonderful venue but the theme of ‘Think Globally Act Locally, Educating All Children to Their Full Potential’ reminds us all of the moral purpose that drives our collective work.
Without question every ICSEI Congress involves the collective effort and energy of the many; it is distributed leadership in action. But it also requires the vision and commitment of an individual to see this possibility in the first place. So my thanks to Sam Stringfield - you have made ICSEI 2015 both a possibility and a reality.
I look forward to welcoming Division A members to ICSEI, 2015 in Cincinnati.
Professor Alma Harris
ICSEI President
almaharris@um.edu.my