About (course overview)

• As this course will be co-constructed, some course content will be filled in by students during the first two weeks ~ based on their presentation topic.

• In order to support students’ theoretical understandings to perform deeper analysis in their research, each week the instructor will cover a topic relevant to the central theme of leadership and culture. Typically this will be from the Fullan text.

• Student presenters will typically pick and article with which they will lead the class discussion and actvities

• We will cover these main themes during the course (details to follow):

Fullan's Leadership Framework (updated 2020)

1. Moral Purpose

2. Understanding Change & Nuance

3. Relationships

4. Knowledge Building & Deep Learning

5. Coherence Making

6. Leadership for change

Through the student presentations we will explore the weekly readings using the cyclical approach: Learning --> Literacy --> Leadership --> Reflection*. We will learn:

• what leaders need to learn (learn as much about the topic)

• the concepts they need to be literate (as knowledge grows look at specific issues in their school and educational settings)

• how to lead in the area (moving from theory to action, proactively & positively influence various dynamics in a school)

• aspects on which they should reflect (not just personal reflection but but also looking at relevant data to see if change is having the desired effect)

* this idea comes from Brooks & Normore

We will use Moodle and Mighty Networks for assignment submission and feedback.

I will engage almost weekly conversation about your progress in the course before the final course mark. This will allow me to make adjustments to the course based on students needs. I will explain the feedback process in class.

Please Note: Mobile computing or communications devices are permitted to be used during the class as long as they are used for the course content. We are trying to model social media use by school administrators (Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and best way to do is is to use it!

Attendance is required in this course: Students are expected to log in on time, remain for the full class period, and actively participate.

Only valid reasons, including medical, family emergencies, observance of holy days, work obligations, and intercollegiate sports activities are justifiable reasons to miss class. If one is to miss class, it is required that they contact the instructor beforehand if at all possible. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the course instructor.

The instructor may recommend withdrawal from the course in cases of unavoidable but excessive absence.

At the discretion of the instructor, unexcused absences may result in a final grade of ‘J’ being awarded for the course.

Attendance will be taken for record keeping purposes.