Category: Unit 10

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Learning Activity 10.3

https://create.twu.ca/ldrs591-sp18/#Unit_10

  • How can I know that I can trust what I am reading?
    • After completing this course, I feel that I have been given many tools to increase the level of skepticism and critical thinking that I use when reading research. I believe that there is always a chance that what we are reading may not be credible and there is no sure way of knowing that something is 100% trustworthy. As said in the unit 10 notes, there is always a chance of error in someones research and in the peer review process. Throughout the course, we have learned ways of ensuring that our research is more likely to be trustworthy. Some of these tools include the charts found in Plano-Clark and Creswell (2017) that provide us with templates to help us evaluate research. PLano-Clark and Creswell (2017) are very good at providing indicators of high quality and low quality research. One specific tool that I found helpful was the tips that are offered throughout Plano-Clark and Creswell (2017). The ‘tips’ section often include specific wording to look for, as well as where to look for the wording in a research paper. Another tool is to look up articles online to determine how many times the articles have been cited in other research. The more an article has been cited, the more it has been trusted by other researchers, giving it more credibility.
  • How do I know the research has been performed competently?
    • We have been given tools to determine whether or not research has been performed competently. The templates used throughout the course are designed to be implemented with any piece of research in order to determine the quality of it. It is up to the consumer to critically analyze the research to determine if there are any bias’, flaws in the design or important components of the research that are missing.
  • How do I know the research is reported honestly?
    • To know if the research is reported honestly, I believe that a consumer must look at the method in which the research was conducted and critically assess to determine if the research was conducted ethically and fairly and is consistent with all participants. One must also look at how the participants were chosen. If there are any clues as to unethical research or a bias sample selection, the consumer should go deeper into research and find other, similar research to ensure that the findings are honest and reliable. If the results have been replicated in another study by different researchers, one can assume the study is credible.
  • How do I know the findings presented are consistent with what other researchers would conclude?
    • This is up to the consumer to determine if the research is consistent with other findings. In order to find this out, a good initial step would be to look at the reference list and read the articles referenced by the author. A consumer can also look online to see if the article has been cited elsewhere and then read the articles in which it was cited. To ensure that the findings presented are consistent with other research, it is up to the consumer to complete a thorough amount of research and too be knowledgeable in other, similar studies that have been done.
  • Close with one question that invites further comment and discussion.
    • It is important to learn to critically assess and analyze any research conducted. To further the research in any given area, one must be able to read the research, give it some thought, take a step back, and think about how it could have been done differently. Do you think you have to be an expert in the particular subject matter? I do not. It is important to approach research with an open mind. I think I have been taught the critical skills to assess research. I don’t believe that I have all of the answers, but I believe that my assessment of any research would provide beneficial feedback for further consideration.

References

Plano-Clark, V., & Creswell, J. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer’s guide (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

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Learning Activity 10.2

https://create.twu.ca/ldrs591-sp18/#Unit_10

Stone et. Al, (2003), discuss that the underlying focus of transformational and servant leadership is how the leader focus’ on the people. “While transformational leaders and servant leaders both show concern for their followers, the overriding focus of the servant leader is upon service to their followers. The transformational leader has a greater concern for getting followers to engage in and support organizational objectives.” (Stone et. al, 2003, 354).

Evidence-based decision making is important for various reasons. Making decisions based on evidence and facts reduces the influence of personal bias. If the goal of a transformational servant leader is to put the interests of the follower at the heart of the decision-making process, then they need to earn the respect and the trust of the followers. If the leader’s decision-making is biased, then the follower will feel like his or her viewpoints are not being carefully examined, valued and considered in the decision-making process which will cause them to lose trust and not want to be a follower. An effective transformational servant leader should consider all viewpoints and perspectives and base their decisions on evidence.

 

References

Gregory Stone, A & F. Russell, Robert & Patterson, Kathleen. (2004). Transformational versus Servant Leadership: A Difference in Leader Focus. Leadership & Organization Development Journal. 25. 349-361.

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Learning Activity 10.1

Redirect

In unit 1, I shared a decision I had made as a leader. My decision occurred when I was acting admin for 2 days in my school and I had to make a discipline decision. In this particular incidence, I do not feel I would’ve made my decision differently. My decision was based on school policy, written behaviour plans for this student as well as on the values of our school and school safety policies.
I have gained new insight throughout this course and might approach this situation differently. In my first post, I wrote about how my past experiences influenced my decisions. Now that I reflect on this decision, I realize that as difficult as it may be, it is important as a leader to not base your decision solely on past experience. In my situation, I was making a decision that was partly based on a students history. While this particular student has significant history, this may not be the case in all situations and as a leader, it is important to recognize that. People change and grow, and children do this at an incredibly fast pace. Some students may grow from year to year. Although I was confident that busier, less structured times of the school year are stressful for this student, he was also a year older and there is a chance that I could’ve been wrong in making the assumption that the more chaotic times in the school year are stressful for him. This is something that I always tried to be mindful of when I taught this student. Each day is a new day, a chance to start fresh, without the influence of yesterday affecting how I treat my students today. Although a leader may be influenced by past experiences, a leader should base their decision on current and present findings and facts, and not solely on past experiences. A leader that is basing decisions on past experience, is allowing their individual bias to influence their decision and may have a negative influence on the decision. It is important to evaluate all viewpoints and to carefully examine the viewpoints of all who will be affected by the decision. Past experiences may influence decisions of a leader, but not be the only factor in decision making.
After taking this course, I believe that this specific situation could be turned into an action research project. For years, this student has struggled in our school system. Nothing has worked and neither the teachers, administrators or student have experienced many moments of success. We have a team of 6 adults trying to come up with ideas and implement them, only to find out that they too, do not work. This student has now been expelled from the school and is not allowed at the other school in my town. I do not believe for a second that we haven’t exhausted as many possibilities as we were capable of, however, maybe through a structured action research project, with additional research and data to support the situation, we may have been able to come up with something else to implement for this student.
In conclusion, I believe that this course has provided me with tools and insights that I need in order to be a more effective leader.

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Light From Many Lamps, Part 9 or 10.

“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today. Let us move forward with strong and active faith.” (Watson, 1951, P 311). Watson teaches us a valuable lesson on leadership by piecing together some important highlights  from the story of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his charismatic and transformational style of leadership.

Roosevelt inspires us to live with faith. He teaches us that no matter what we experience in our lives, we need to live with faith. “ He did not live to see his dreams of world unity and a strong peace structure realized. But he never lost faith that out of the agony of war a new and better world would be born. (Watson, 1951, P 312).

I believe that this relates to my own life. One component of effective leadership is leading by example. I believe that if I hope to inspire children to have faith, then I must have faith.

Sometimes, it is difficult to believe that complex situations will workout. If you have faith, usually they end up working out. As a teacher, I try to inspire my students on a daily basis.  This article is more about inspiring a nation and the world towards the common goal of peace.  In the classroom, I inspire my students to overcome any personal obstacles they are dealing with to help them become stronger and better individuals.  Amongst my colleagues, I try to inspire them towards being a stronger team that works together towards our common goal of inspiring and educating children, to help them to mature and experience success in their lives.

 

 

References:

 

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster

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Response to Timothy DeHaan’s (nocontest) Leadership Story

This is my response to Timothy DeHaan’s post (nocontest), My Leadership Story

 

I enjoyed the approach that you took to this assignment, as well as the presentation of your podcast. Your presentation was truly a story and one that was appealing to the listener.

 

In your post, you made a comment that the ball was “just short of the line.” I believe that this is symbolic. Sometimes, I feel like I try to juggle so many things in my life that I feel burnt out. I try to be the perfect christian, daughter, sister, friend, colleague, girlfriend, student and roommate. It gets exhausting and I often feel like in some areas I do not meet my own expectations or I am “just short of the line.” It is an extremely difficult task to be able to balance all of the things that we strive to be good at in life. Sometimes we are our own worst critics and I believe that this needs to be included in our thoughts when trying to find a balance. I think that this struggle is a sign of a good leader. Instead of accepting that this is the way life is, or just letting life happen, we are trying to do our best to be the best we possibly can be when life happens.

 

Thanks for the reflection and the great story.

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Unit 10: Course Reflection

I have learned a lot of things from this course. First, I have learned how to navigate an online course and have learned to manage time and balance a full-time job as well as my first course towards my masters, which was a challenge for me. I find teaching to be a demanding job and found it difficult to be able to make time for both work and schoolwork.  Starting the course late also added to the challenge.

 

I have also learned many things about leadership. I have learned about several different styles of leadership. I have learned about what it takes to be an effective leader. The area in which I have gained the most knowledge, and which I am grateful for is that I have had the opportunity to deeply reflect on my own practice. Prior to this course, my reflection was more about how my lessons were going. I find now that I am coming home from work each day, reflecting on how I dealt with colleagues and students in and out of my classroom environment. I reflect on how I can be a more effective leader in our school.

 

Northouse provides great insight into leadership and all of its complexities. It answered many of my questions about leadership and gave great tools to assist me in determining what kind of leader I am. This led me to be even more self-reflective.

 

I have had the opportunity to learn about many leaders in the world, whom I did not previously know much about. Light from Many Lamps has provided me with many examples and scenarios of how leaders emerge. I am grateful for the opportunity to have read these 2 fascinating textbooks.

 

In conclusion, my favourite quote comes from one of my Light From Many Lamps Assignments. I didn’t use this quote in my assignment, however it is from a story I read. The story speaks to the business of society and discusses the importance of living in the moment of each day. “…live for the day and its allotted task-to do what lies clearly at hand” and let the future take care of itself.” (Watson, 1951, 215).

 

This quote is one that I will carry with me to serves as a reminder to myself.

 

References:

Watson, L. E. (1988). Light from many lamps. New York: Simon & Schuster

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Response to Simarjit’s Leadership Story.

This is my response to Simarjit’s Leadership Story.

https://create.twu.ca/icandothis/2017/11/30/my-leadership-story/

 

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

 

I can relate to your final comments about whether or not you should use the skills, knowledge and experience to continue doing what you’re doing or whether you should evolve and learn new skills, stay challenged to keep learning new things and progress in life. This is my reasoning behind taking this course. It would be very easy for me to live in my small town and to teach grade 4 for the next 30 years, however I want to continue to evolve and grow and share that growth of knowledge with others.

 

I would be interested to know what some of your achievements and successes are so that I can have a deeper understanding of your leadership story.