Research talk: Building Human and Organizational Capacity for Science Educational Reform

Contexts shape the work of teaching, and rarely is this more illuminated than in the light of new educational reforms. But how do leaders decide when to invest their often scarce resources to maximize opportunities for teacher learning? How can school leaders accurately assess their own school’s capacity to learn? I bring together the concept of absorptive capacity–defined as a measure of an organization's ability to learn–and social network theory together to present an approach to assessing a school or school network’s readiness for change. In this talk I will share a framework for understanding how schools are differentially positioned to integrate external knowledge into local practices. Building organizational capacity is crucial because creating school environments where people are better connected can lead to the improved flow of information within and across school networks. Understanding these communication pathways is crucial for school leaders as effective schools are ones where teachers frequently collaborate, receive meaningful feedback from colleagues and school leaders, and are recognized for their contributions and expertise