ABOUT

Leadership Theory in Education (EDEM 673) is a required course offered through the Department of Integrated Studies in the Faculty of Education at McGill University.

The course starts this Fall on Mondays, September 9th from 5:35 to 8:25 pm in room 433 in the Education Building at McGill.

Official Course Description:

"Admin & Policy Studies in Ed : Explores theory and research on leadership approaches (including leadership styles, strategies, and communication practices) and the role of leadership theory in educational settings.

Learning Outcomes

Examine educational leadership, understand leadership theories, and develop the leadership traits and abilities for school practitioners:

Analyze Contemporary and Classical Leadership Theories
- Evaluate diverse leadership theories
- Assess their effectiveness in modern educational settings
Develop Personal Leadership Philosophy
- Integrate course materials and personal experiences
- Create a well-articulated leadership framework
Enhance Leadership Self-Assessment Skills
- Develop team and self-assessment techniques
- Apply reflective practices to improve leadership effectiveness
Integrate Diverse Leadership Perspectives

Analyze leadership strategies from various sectors (business, non-profit, government)
- Evaluate their applicability to educational contexts
- Synthesize innovative approaches for educational leadership

Instructional Methods:

Diverse learning approaches: Lectures, discussions, group presentations, and collaborative projects
Digital engagement: My Courses and Mighty Networks platform for weekly reflection blogs, chats, and posts ~~ OR ~~ 2 mini reflections due (#1 due Sept. 23rd and #2 one week after end of the course).
- To be explained fully during the first class, so try not to miss it.
Interactive learning: Active debates and discussions on readings, case studies, and relevant issues.
Small group dynamics: Students will be organized into groups of 3 for student led presentations. Groups of 5 or 6 for readings.

Attendance and participation policy:

Regular attendance and active participation are crucial for achieving learning outcomes
Expectations:
- Engage in class discussions by sharing opinions and asking questions
- Complete assigned readings before each class
- Contribute to peer learning and interaction
- Aligns with Quebec Ministry of Education's Core Professional Competencies #11 & #12

Absence policy:

For pre-approved absences:
- Submit a 300-500 word critical reflection via MyCourses
- Demonstrate understanding of missed content with references to course material
- Deadline: Within 72 hours of the missed class
- Failure to submit may affect final course grade

I want the class to think about and to explore how leadership theory may or may not be useful in practice:

In this first part of the course, we're going to dive into the theories that shape how we think about educational leadership today. Interestingly, a lot of these ideas actually come from outside the world of education, so we'll be exploring some pretty diverse stuff. We'll look at the big theories, figure out where they came from, and then really dig into how well they fit (or don't fit) in education.
- Don't worry – it's not all just reading and nodding along. We'll be picking these theories apart, looking at what people criticize about them, and figuring out if they actually make sense in schools.
- The cool part? You'll get to choose a theory that really interests you and go deep on it for your assignments. It's a chance to really wrap your head around these ideas and see how they might work in the real world of education.

We'll explore the contextual nature of leadership challenges in education. Leadership theories don't exist in a vacuum; they intersect with pressing societal concerns that shape our educational landscape. We'll examine how leaders navigate issues such as social justice and inclusion, sustainability, and lifelong learning.
- Our focus will be on understanding how these contemporary challenges influence leadership practices and decision-making in educational settings. Through the analysis of carefully selected case studies, students will have the opportunity to apply leadership theories to specific contexts and situations.
- This approach will allow for a deeper understanding of how theoretical frameworks translate into practical leadership strategies.
- By engaging with real-world scenarios, we aim to develop your ability to adapt leadership approaches to diverse and complex educational environments. This section will enhance your critical thinking skills and prepare you to address the multifaceted challenges faced by educational leaders today.

The third part of our course addresses a critical challenge in leadership studies: the gap between theory and practice. While theoretical foundations are essential, their true value lies in practical application. This section will explore effective methods for translating leadership theories into actionable strategies within educational settings.
- We will focus on three key areas:
  - Leadership Education: Examining approaches to learning about leadership, including both formal and informal methods.
  - School-Based Research: Investigating how on-site research can inform and enhance leadership practices.
  - Peer Learning: Exploring the value of collaborative learning and knowledge sharing among educational leaders.

Throughout this section, students will engage in reflective practices to develop personalized strategies for deepening their understanding of leadership theory and its application. We will emphasize the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in leadership roles.

By bridging the theoretical and practical aspects of leadership, this section aims to equip students with the tools to become more effective and reflective educational leaders. Students will learn to critically evaluate and apply leadership theories in real-world educational contexts, fostering a more nuanced and practical approach to leadership challenges.

Required Texts:

The book will be accessed through on Perusall through myCourses . There is no cost thanks to the McGill Library. The book is currently selling for $75 on Amazon Canada.

Dugan, John P.. Leadership Theory : Cultivating Critical Perspectives, 2nd. Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2024. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mcgill/detail.action?docID=4797456.

The chapter readings will be supplemented with a selection of articles and case studies to highlight and further expand the theories we cover in class.

The readings from this text start on Oct. 21st. I've uploaded the chapters on Perusall. Here is the link to the whole book: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/mcgill/detail.action?docID=6282146

McGill LIbrary Course reserve: https://mcgill.on.worldcat.org/courseReserves/course/id/21428654

Please use these references for your mini essay reflections and/or presentations.

This is a nice visual from Dugan's book. I like how he frames the leadership theories