Exploring school leadership across contexts through the (virtual, open source) Comparative Educational Leadership Lab

Group Submission Type: Pre-conference Workshop

Description of Session

Through this workshop, the organizers and presenters hope to generate interest in and enthusiasm for the under-researched, yet exceedingly important topic of educational leadership in comparative and international education. Over the past three years, workshop organizers have created a virtual learning space housing several teaching case studies based on educational leadership challenges and experiences across a range of country contexts, including Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, Mongolia, South Africa, and Switzerland. The case study topics and materials were initiated and developed by local school leaders in collaboration with various project team members, with the express goal of sparking dialogue, inviting questioning, exploring ideas, and sharing insights. Open to all CIES conference registrants, the purpose of this workshop is to provide the opportunity for CIES members as well as school leaders and education practitioners from case study (and other) countries to engage in the newly launched virtual learning space (compedleadershiplab.com) and exchange ideas about its use and future potential in the field of comparative and international education. Learning objectives include the following: 1) to participate in (minimally) one teaching case study with facilitators either in person at the conference or in the locations of study, 2) to engage with empirical data on the subject of the case study, 3) to brainstorm possible responses to the critical thinking questions posed or activities suggested based on information provided in the case study, 4) to discuss the comparative themes across the case studies, 5) to provide feedback on the usefulness of both the CELL’s case study content and the online platform, and 6) to develop a research, learning and/or advocacy agenda based on presenters’ and participants’ inputs and interests. The workshop’s delivery plan is outlined in the agenda below, which balances brief inputs from facilitators and substantial interaction among participants in breakout sessions through guided activities within each case study. Expected outcomes for participants are: 1) familiarization with the CELL itself as a pedagogical tool and resource, and 2) deeper understanding of issues facing educational leaders in various global contexts. For facilitators, expected outcomes include: 1) feedback to improve the presentation of the case studies, and 2) opportunities to increase collaboration with CIES members who are interested in learning from the CELL, using the CELL to teach, contributing to the CELL, or all of the above.

Workshop Agenda:
Monday, April 18, 2022, 9am-12noon (Minneapolis time)

9:00 Introduction of the CELL and why we created it; present pedagogical gap(s) it fills and opportunities it offers (Cathryn Magno)

9:10 Focus of the workshop: purpose, learning objectives, agenda (Anna Becker)

9:15 Introduction of organizers, facilitators, and depending on numbers, participants in the workshop

9:20 Overview of the CELL platform/technology (Anna Becker & Chris McKenna)

9:30 Let’s enter the Lab!

9:35-10:20 Select first case study breakout room
Participants select one of four possible case studies to examine and enter respective breakout rooms. Each breakout room is hosted by case study team facilitators who will guide the activities.
-Facilitators introduce the case, may let participants move through it themselves or in a guided manner, may break into sub-groups/discussion groups, may engage in suggested classroom activity/ies, discuss critical thinking questions, etc.

10:20-10:30 Stretch break!

10:30-11:15 Select second case study breakout room
Participants select one of four possible case studies to examine and enter respective breakout rooms. Each breakout room is hosted by case study team facilitators who will guide the activities.
-Facilitators introduce the case, may let participants move through it themselves or in a guided manner, may break into sub-groups/discussion groups, may engage in suggested classroom activity/ies, discuss critical thinking questions, etc.

11:15-11:45 Back to big group for report out and comparative exploration
-Identify cross-cutting themes (based on the two you engaged in or others)
-How could the CELL be better-organized for more comparative study?

11:50 Feedback on the CELL as a learning experience
-What worked, what did not; suggestions for content and format
-Take-aways?

11:55-12:00 Evaluation of workshop and thanks

12:00 Close

Presenters include the following:
-Mary Mendenhall, Danielle Falk, Jon Kwok and Emily Ervin, Teachers College, Columbia University representing the Kakuma Refugee Camp case study team
-Felicitas Acosta and Alicia Merodo, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento representing the Argentina team
-Elmina Kazimzade representing the Azerbaijan team
-Carol Anne Spreen, New York University, Bruce Damons and Muki Moeng, Nelson Mandela University, Sume Nombulelo and Jarren Gangiah, Charles Duna Primary School representing the South Africa team
-Christine McKenna, Lehman College, Multimedia Producer

Sub Unit

• Pre-Conference Workshops, Book launches, and Visual Art Exhibits / Pre-Conference Workshop

Workshop Organizers

• Cathryn Magno, University of Fribourg

• Anna Becker, University of Fribourg

Presenters

• Mary Mendenhall, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Jonathan Kwok, Columbia University Teachers Colleg

• Emily Ervin, Columbia University Teachers Colleg

• Felicitas M Acosta, Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento

• Carol Anne Spreen, New York Univesity

• Elmina Kazimzade, Baku State University

• Batjargal Batkhuyag, Mongolian Education Alliance

• Christine McKenna, Lehman College, CUNY