Lesson Activities

Lesson 06 Group Discussion

Individual responses to questions below should be posted below no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday and should be approximately 150 words in length. After everyone has posted their response, read through the other student postings and respond to two of these. If a posting already has two responses, then find another to which you can respond. The two reaction responses to other students’ posts below must be completed by no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.

Your discussion this week will involve collaborative investigation of various models for school improvement including: KEYS initiative, Systems Model of Continuous Improvement, and PSDA inquiry model.

This week, you are assigned to a small group to collaborate and share the work to enhance your learning. For efficiency and effectiveness in your groups please follow these steps:

1. Connect with your group to determine a plan for the week’s work AND to assign readings/models to each group member. (When will you have your readings done and how will you discuss them? Etc)
2. Each group member will post an original response that presents one model to the rest of the group including the following points:
   • Define the model
   • Strengths and weaknesses of the model
   • Best uses for the model
3. Respond to each group member with questions, comments, and points of interest to you.
4. Continue meaninguful discussion about the models in ways that enhance your learning.

Your group assignment has been generated randomly by Canvas and a group leader has also randomly been assigned to your group. If you have any trouble accessing your group, let me know ASAP, and I will do what I can to support you (or, if needed, correct any inadvertent errors on my part).

You are welcome to utilize Zoom for your collaboration/discussion this week. Just be sure of the following when using Zoom:

• Set up a time(s) agreeable to all
• Coordinate your Zoom sessions through your Discussion Group thread so that all group members (and I too) are fully aware of information/plans
• You are encouraged to RECORD all Zoom sessions so that they may be shared with me or with group members/classmates as needed

You are not required to use Zoom, however, you may find it helpful to coordinate your discussion this week.

This week's work will be graded according to the quality of your learning experience and how well you are able to collaborate with one another to gain an understanding of this week’s content.

Lesson 06 Assignment

The Baldrige process as a powerful set of mechanisms for disciplined people engaged in disciplined thought and taking disciplined action to create great organizations that produce exceptional results.

—Jim Collins, author of the best-seller, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don't

General Information and Introduction

Each of the two options below relate to a model from this week’s lesson. Consider which model resonated with you most this week, and select assignment from the options below. This assignment should be completed on this Word document and placed in the drop box provided.

Option 1

After reading the Preface in the Textbook 1, use the 12 essential findings and draft a two to four-page essay that addresses the following:

• Generally speaking, explain how you would evaluate your school’s strengths. Share one or two stories that support your analysis.
• Identify one or two areas that need to be improved or strengthened. Explain why and support your answers.
• Make connections and explain how the structural and cultural characteristics of your setting positively affect student outcomes.

Option 2

Familiarize yourself with the Baldrige model. Use many of the links provided below to navigate the website or attack the components and videos in any way that allows you to become grounded in the key understandings, actions, processes, and promises of this school improvement model.

• MCPS Website
• The Baldrige Award was won in 2010
• Baldrige in Action Page
• Baldrige information
• Baldridge in the Classroom
• Baldridge Categories
• Rationale
• Baldridge for Staff
• Baldrige Tabs

Use the information you found in the links provided to write a two to four-page executive summary of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Imagine that you are doing a presentation to your Board of School Directors and the media and include the following:

• Set a compelling and clear purpose to let the board know what the Baldrige Model can do for your school or district and why they will want to read all the reports and data associated with the experiences and successes of the Montgomery County Public Schools
• Define the problem the Baldrige Model addresses; what does this model offer that you need
• Explain how and why the Baldrige is the solution the system needs
• Provide the Board with a why now this is your opportunity to compel the board to act immediately and not delay in its actions.

Rubric

Lesson 06 Assignment Rubric

Criteria	Points Possible
Thorough and thoughtful initial post by Sunday evening	20
150 words minimum or more for the initial post and response to classmate posts	10
References are made to course content or outside resources	10
Word file / name of document left-hand margin SmithLesson1 proper formatting in APA 6th and correct grammar without typos	10