The Strategic Role of School Leaders in Embedding Inquiry-Based Working in the School Organization

• In Event: Park Central Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: Principals' Problem-Solving and Decision-Making in Teams and Organizations

Abstract

Research-and-Development projects provide school leaders with opportunities to encourage inquiry-based working of teachers. This study investigated which strategic roles school leaders took up to do so in the context of 19 Dutch R&D projects in secondary schools. Interview data showed that school leaders in 16 projects indeed aimed at embedding inquiry-based working. Eight school leaders facilitated a small group of teacher researchers and requested them to share their research results with colleagues. The other eight hired external researchers and encouraged teams of teachers to discuss and reflect on research done by those researchers. Our study discusses the value of these two strategies and the importance for school leaders to act on the individual, team and organizational level in both groups.

Authors

• Wouter Schenke, University of Amsterdam

• Femke Geijsel, Radboud University Nijmegen

• Jan H. Van Driel, University of Melbourne

• Monique L. Volman, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Research Institute Child Development and Education