The Challenge of Change
Start School Improvement Now!
- Michael Fullan - Michael Fullan Enterprises Inc., Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, Canada
Contributors address the problems that have led to the school change movement and offer solutions and proposals for reform. The articles provide not only practical implementation examples involving schools and communities, but also a look at the essential role hope and emotion play in the change process. Each essay provides fresh insights, such as the importance of establishing collaborative work cultures and the need for professional learning communities, that, when taken as a whole, introduce a new mindset for understanding change.
The Challenge of School Change: A Collection of Articles sheds new light on educational reform and offers important ideas about how change happens and how it is sustained. Fullan's collection confronts a complex issue with clarity and thoughtfulness and reminds teachers, administrators, principals, and parents that if they are up to the challenge, successful change efforts are possible in any school environment.
"It is important that we have books that contain a blend of provocative ideas and practical strategies. This is an excellent example of such a resource. I would use this book in my course on organizational change and in my work with promoting equity and diversity in leading change in schools. ”
The textbook is relevant to my course needs. However, it is not comprehensive enough in covering all the topics in my course. Therefore, some sections will be used as recommended reading. Thank you for the copy.
Particularly useful for those involved in, or thinking about becoming involved in leading change in educational organisations. This book is a compilation of work, edited by Fullan, and includes material on forces for leaders of change and strategies for sustaining change. There is particular reference to the High School system in the US, but the content has significance for leaders of change in other education environments too. There is also reference in the content to international change initiatives, such as that implemented under Tony Blair in the UK.
Fullan has structured the book to move from exploration of forces for change to school level focus, to district level focus, and finally to a discussion of large scale reform, specifically considering the impact of choices at a policy level, and the influences on decision-making in educational improvement. The contributors also consider what might be right for education in the 21st century - particularly interesting in the light of current economic and fiscal challenges, and a good source for promoting debate around economic value of education and what are appropriate outcomes of education.
