| FOCUS QUESTION
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- "In what ways do school structure/practices and supervisory functions intersect?"
| READINGS
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- Sergiovanni & Starratt, Chapters 1- 4
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FORWARD
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As we proceed throughout the course, you will notice a pattern to our weekly interactions. Generally, you will find a brief introduction or “Forward” of where I intend to take you, followed by highlights or “Big Ideas” about the topic at hand. These “Big Ideas,” are well, full-size thoughts, conveyed either in the readings or ones I hope we will think about and pursue in greater detail throughout the week (and likely, throughout the course!). Their mention up front might be considered as "setting the stage.” The final section of the unit designates the topical "Learning Tasks". These contain the guiding questions, prompts, or other pieces of information that will lead you in various directions toward exploring these full-size thoughts. As you will quickly see, the weekly "Learning Tasks" most often will engage you in reading, reflecting, researching, writing, posting (or otherwise publicly sharing your writing) and responding to peers' words of wisdom.
The weekly focus questions are intended to weave your personal experiences and associated understandings with broader social events that have impacted or continue to impact educational leadership and supervisory practice. I intend for us to gather around full-size thoughts in each text and for us to translate them into meaningful actions in our respective sites of schooling and in our own lives. These questions will also allow for a combination of solitary reflection and group dialogue. Ultimately, it is my hope that we collectively raise questions, critically examine ideas and assumptions, explore images, and suggest and engage in practices that emerge from our new understandings. You may want to revisit our "Building A Sense of Community - Preparing for Reflection" in the syllabus for ideas and suggestions on how we can best prepare ourselves for such a process of reflection and dialogue. (Click on "Syllabus" in the menu on the left and scroll down to the section titled "Building A Sense of Community".) As well, review the expectations for engaging in substantive dialogues and participation.
Next Steps...
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