Disengaged students is a feature - not a bug
Theory of Change: Transforming Education Through the E.N.G.A.G.E Priorities - merging leadership models
Introduction The traditional public education system, established in the early 20th century, was primarily designed to create compliant and obedient workers suited for an industrial society. This legacy persists today, training students in a manner that stifles creativity and engagement. Research indicates that disengagement among students is not an unintended consequence of the educational system; rather, it is a feature of its design. To combat this issue, we must shift our focus from producing skilled workers to nurturing creative thinkers and innovators. The E.N.G.A.G.E merged model (figure 1) presents a framework to catalyze this transformation.
Figure 1: ENGAGE merged mode - merging the Diffustion of Innovation Model with Skill Acquisition, Tribal Leadership, and Situational Leadership Models
From: (Idea to Value, 2019) https://www.ideatovalue.com/crea/nickskillicorn/2016/08/evidence-children-become-less-creative-time-fix/
The Problem: Conventional Mindsets Current educational practices often treat students as “laggards” or “late mass,” focusing on rote learning and passive compliance. As a result, student engagement diminishes as they progress through the system—something demonstrated by George Land's study, which showed that while 98% of 5-year-olds scored at the “Genius Level” for creativity, only 2% maintained that level into adulthood. This decline is emblematic of a system that prioritizes conformity over creativity, making disengagement a built-in feature rather than a flaw.
The Vision: E.N.G.A.G.E as an Innovator’s Framework The E.N.G.A.G.E model positions students as innovators and early adopters. By merging insights from the Diffusion of Innovation Model, Tribal Leadership, and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model, we can create an educational ecosystem where students are not just passive participants but active contributors to their learning journey.
Key Features of the Merged Models
Empowerment: Drawing from the Diffusion of Innovation Model (the work of several researchers e.g. Cialdini, Rogers, Forresters, Gladwell, and Moore), we recognize that adopting new practices hinges on empowering people (students and teachers) to take ownership of their outcomes. This requires independence to set their own learning goals and the authority to adapt processes to achieve those goals. By fostering autonomy, we cultivate an environment that prioritizes individual expression and innovation.
Nurturing Iteration: The Tribal Leadership Model (Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright) encourages creating supportive learning communities that celebrate iterative cycles of observe-reflect-plan-act. This approach contrasts sharply with rigid educational structures. Instead of adhering strictly to prescribed curricula, educators should adopt a mentor role, providing provocations and opportunities for students to engage in trial-and-error processes that lead to genuine understanding and creative exploration.
Growth Mindset: A departure from deficit thinking towards a Growth Attitude aligns with the principles of the Situational Leadership Model (Richard Blanchard). By viewing challenges as opportunities to learn, educators foster resilience in students. Recognizing that students are not "distracted dreamers" but rather capable individuals who can adapt and grow is essential for nurturing their capacity to innovate.
Active Problem-Solving: The emphasis on active problem-solving stems from a recognition that today’s information landscape requires students to be critical thinkers rather than rote memorizers. By engaging students in real-world challenges and encouraging them to evaluate and reflect upon information sources, E.N.G.A.G.E fosters decision-making skills that are crucial in a complex, interconnected world.
Global Connections: By integrating global citizenship into curricula, E.N.G.A.G.E encourages students to explore diverse perspectives. This reflects Logan’s Tribal Leadership notion of recognizing shared goals and common purposes. With increased exposure to global issues, students become informed citizens capable of contributing positively to society, breaking the isolation that traditional schooling often reinforces.
Equity Over Equality: It’s crucial that our education systems prioritize equity, ensuring all students have the support necessary to thrive. Embracing diverse experiences and perspectives fosters a classroom climate in which every student feels valued and empowered. As noted in transformational leadership models (note 1), this inclusivity is essential for dismantling barriers that lead to disengagement.
Conclusion: A Call to Action The existing education system’s production of disengaged students is a systemic feature, not a bug. To rectify this disengagement, we need a new approach that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking—qualities intrinsic to the E.N.G.A.G.E Priorities. By adopting this framework, we can combat the cultural norms of compliance and conformity inherent in traditional education.
Let’s work together to embrace E.N.G.A.G.E principles that position students as pioneers of their learning experiences. With a collective commitment to innovation and empowerment, we can reshape education into a dynamic landscape that cultivates the thinkers and creators of tomorrow. By recognizing and prioritizing these critical shifts, we can develop an educational system that does more than teach; it inspires, engages, and empowers each student to make a meaningful contribution to their community and the world.
Note 1:
In this discussion of educational transformation and the E.N.G.A.G.E Priorities, several “transformational leadership” models have been referenced:
Bass's Transformational Leadership Theory: This model, developed by Bernard Bass, emphasizes the role of leaders in inspiring and motivating their followers to achieve more than what is typically expected. In education, transformational leaders create a shared vision, foster a supportive environment, and encourage innovation among staff and students.
Fullan’s Change Theory: Michael Fullan has extensively outlined how change occurs within educational systems. His model emphasizes the importance of collaboration, capacity building, and the role of leaders as change agents who can create a culture of shared responsibility for student success.
Servant Leadership: Proposed by Robert K. Greenleaf, this model focuses on the leader's role as a servant first, prioritizing the needs of others. In education, this approach encourages leaders to support teachers and students as they work together to meet the community's needs, fostering a culture of trust and empowerment.
Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model: While this model primarily focuses on adapting leadership styles based on the readiness level of the learner, it also aligns with transformational leadership by emphasizing the need for leaders to be responsive to their followers' needs, promoting growth and development.
Senge's Learning Organization: Peter Senge’s model advocates for organizations to be learning entities that emphasize shared vision, team learning, and personal mastery. This aligns closely with the E.N.G.A.G.E Priorities by promoting collaboration and ongoing learning among educators, allowing for innovation to flourish.
Logan’s Tribal Leadership: This model categorizes organizational cultures into five tribes, each with a distinct mindset and approach to work. It emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration in fostering a culture of innovation and engagement, which can be particularly relevant in educational settings.
Transformational Leadership in Education: This approach emphasizes leaders who inspire and motivate staff and students to embrace change and foster a positive school culture. It aligns with the idea of moving away from compliance and toward creativity and critical thinking.
Incorporating insights from these various leadership models into day-to-day classroom practices can provide a robust framework for understanding how to implement the E.N.G.A.G.E Priorities, promoting a culture that fosters innovation, engagement, and transformative change.
