Learning To Read Critically In Educational Leadership And Management

Learning to Read Critically in Educational Leadership and Management is a unique resource which combines a teaching text with exemplary reports of small-scale research and a literature review conducted by international scholars. Part One gives the reader a framework for the critical analysis of any text and explains how to incorporate it into a literature review for a course assignment, dissertation or thesis.

`In Learning to Read Critically in Educational Leadership and Management, Mike Wallace and Louise Poulson provide students with an eminently usable text. Although the theoretical underpinnings and conceptualizations of leadership issues invariably differ, this book provides a lucid guide to plumbing their ambiguities' - Educational Review `This is a book that should be regarded as essential reading for those students following courses in education and social policy, particularly as masters level '- International Journal of Educational Management `I bought this book just a few days ago and I was surprised to realise the simple and yet scientific way it is written! I have started my postgraduate studies in Educational Management and this book will definitely make things easier! I would like to cordially thank Professor Wallace and Mrs Louise Poulson for this book which will help the majority of the students who enter the "labyrinth" of postgraduate research and surely need a kind of instruction manual to start! ' - Amazon Review `One of the most useful books that I have come across for my students' - Professor Les Bell, Director of Doctorate of Education, University of Leicester `Very impressed with the first chapter. Have recommended it to our research department for use with our graduate students. Thorough and practical' - Philip Hallinger, Executive Director of the College of Management, Mahidol University, Thailand This unique book combines the teaching quality of a text with exemplary reports of small-scale and larger research studies, as well as a literature review by leading academics. Part One shows how to develop as a critical reader and self-critical writer of literature; and how to apply these insights in planning a written assignment, dissertation or thesis. The book provides a framework for the critical analysis of any text, and shows how to incorporate this in a literature review. Part Two presents accounts of leading-edge research, offering insights into key issues in the field of educational leadership, management and administration. The reader is invited to practice literature review skills by applying the critical analysis questions to any research report. Readers can use the models of good research practice presented here in their own design of an investigation for a dissertation or thesis. Part Three shows how a high quality literature review may be constructed and addresses a key issue in the field. Contributors include: · Sharon Kruse . Karen Seashore Louis · Kenneth Leithwood · Phillip Hallinger and Ronald Heck · Derek Glover and Rosalind Levacic · Ray Bolam This book will be useful to postgraduate students on research-based masters and doctorate courses in educational leadership, management and administration. It is relevant for students doing research training in the social sciences and humanities. It is can also be used as a teaching resource by supervisors of masters and doctorate level students. This series, edited by Mike Wallace, supports research-based teaching on masters and taught doctorate courses in the humanities and social sciences fields of enquiry. Each book is a 'three in one' text designed to assist advanced course tutors and dissertation supervisors with key research-based teaching tasks and aims to: • develop students' critical understanding of research literature • increase students' appreciation of what can be achieved in small-scale investigations similar to those which they undertake for their dissertation • present students with major findings, generalisations and concepts connected to their particular field.

This book combines a teaching text with exemplary reports of research and a literature review by international scholars.

'A systematic, coherent approach to developing critical reading and writing skills that are applicable to a range of different levels of analysis and types of reading and writing tasks. The authors are to be commended for the clarity of their writing and the way scaffolded advice and tasks are integrated into the text. The book could form the core text for a course on critical reading and writing and a useful reference tool for the academic recently entered upon writing for publication.' - Educate Journal 'A very clear, accessible introduction that will be invaluable to postgraduate students trying to engage with reading and writing in a critical way' - R.M. Lee, Professor of Social Research Methods, Royal Holloway University of London This guide to critical reading and self-critical writing is a 'must-have' resource for postgraduate students and early-career academics. Packed with tools for analysing texts and structuring critical reviews, and incorporating exercises and worked examples drawn from the social sciences, the book offers step-by-step advice on how to: " read any text critically and analyse it in the depth appropriate to one's project " develop a self-critical approach to one's own academic writing " ask questions in order to evaluate authors' arguments " keep a review manageable by using focused review questions " structure a comparative review of multiple texts " build up a convincing argument " integrate critical literature reviews into a dissertation or thesis " make the transition from postgraduate to professional academic writer Essential reading for novice researchers, the book will also be invaluable for supervisors, methods course tutors, and academic mentors who teach and support the development of critical reading and self-critical writing skills.

Understanding Educational Leadership guides you through critical perspectives and approaches across the world, taking in the global north and south, and explores the ways in which educational leadership is currently understood, theorised, researched, modelled and practised. The book also covers contemporary issues including gender, sexual identity and race, as well as topics such as governance, performativity and corporatisation. It brings together evidence and ideas that illuminate the power structures and relations in educational leaders, leading and leadership and helps you to consider the impact on policy and practice, and to think about changes needed to mitigate the issues identified. The book showcases a wide range of theorists, including Bourdieu, Foucault and Fraser. Its impressive scope includes analyses of collectivist, neoliberal and historical influences on educational leadership. It explores forensically leadership styles, with an explicit focus on distributed, instructional, democratic, autocratic, laissez-faire and organisational forms. Carefully curated by the editors, the world-leading contributors draw on their wealth of knowledge about research and practice to provide you with an overview of educational leadership today, looking at global research, evidence, arguments and conceptualisations. Each chapter is written in an engaging and inspiring way, following a consistent approach to help you to develop your understanding in each of the areas covered. Full pedagogical features throughout include chapter summaries, key questions, case studies, questions for readers and further reading suggestions with questions on key texts. A companion website provides links to open-access outputs, research-project outcomes, and networking seminars, conferences with links to local, national and global events and connections.

Carrying out leadership research in educational establishments can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. This accessible book offers sound practical advice and a clear conceptual framework for this research. Drawing on their extensive expertise, the authors show you how to prepare to carry out research, design research tools, and report and reflect on the results. Students using the book are supported by features such as: key learning objectives in each chapter examples of research tools derived from real leadership project figures explanation of key terms and questions further reading and key web links for each chapter. This text will be of interest to Masters' and Doctoral level students, academics in the field of educational leadership and management and all those who wish to research a wide range of issues connected with the operation of schools and institutions of further and higher education.

'This book is refreshing and distinctive. It takes the individual as the starting-point and builds outwards from there, to the vital but often neglected interpersonal dimension and the turbulent contexts of modern education. Vignettes help to make the theory concrete and activities bring the reader right into the frame.' - Ron Glatter, Emeritus Professor of Educational Administration and Management, The Open University and Hon. President of BELMAS Effective leadership combines organisational skills and personal qualities. Building on notions of leadership at all levels, this book contains an invaluable bank of creative ideas to help teachers already in management positions, as well as those just starting out, to reflect on their personal and leadership development. With a focus on organisational improvement and leading strategically within changing policy contexts, chapters interrogate key leadership issues such as managing people, values and context. Examples from the UK and internationally further demonstrate how to develop as a successful and sustainable leader. Content includes: · the influence of local and national contexts; · accountability; · working with stakeholders across boundaries and borders; · approaches to change; · becoming a strategic leader; · the educational leader as researcher. This is an essential resource for practising and aspiring educational leaders and managers and students on postgraduate or personal development courses, in the UK and internationally.