Schools That Learn: A Fifth Discipline Fieldbook for Educators, Parents, and Everyone Who Cares About Education

Description

A NEW EDITION OF THE GROUNDBREAKING BOOK A new edition - revised and updated with over 100 pages of new material - of the groundbreaking book that brings the principles of organizational learning to today s schools and classrooms. A unique collaboration between the celebrated management thinker and Fifth Discipline author Peter Senge , and a team of renowned educators and organizational change leaders, the revised edition of Schools The Learn addresses the new and unique pressures on our educational system that have emerged since the book's initial publication in 2000. In a fast-changing world where school populations are increasingly diverse, children live in ever-more-complex social and media environments, standardized tests are applied as overly simplistic "quick fixes," and advances in science and technology continue to accelerate, the pressures on our educational system are inescapable. Schools That Learn offers a much-needed way to open dialogue about these problems and provides pragmatic opportunities to transform school systems into learning organizations. Drawing on observations and advice from more than 70 writers and experts on schools and education, this book features: methods for implementing organizational learning and explanations of why they work compelling stories and anecdotes from the field - classrooms, schools, and communities charts, tables and diagrams to illustrate systems thinking and other practices guiding principles for how to apply innovative practices in all types of school systems Schools That Learn is the essential guide for anyone who cares about the future of education and keeping our nation s schools competitive in our fast-changing world.

Peter Senge was named as one of the 24 people who had "the greatest influence on business strategy over the last 100 years" by the Journal of Business Strategy. PETER SENGE, senior lecturer at MIT and the founding chair of the Society for Organizational Learning (SoL), is the author or co-author of several bestselling books, including The Fifth Discipline, Schools That Learn, and Presence. BRYAN SMITH, coauthor with Senge of The Dance of Change and two other Fifth Discipline fieldbooks, is a member of the faculty at York University's Sustainable Enterprise Academy, and president of Broad Reach Innovations, Inc. Other author bio to follow -

"Schools that Learn is a magnificent, grand book that pays equal attention to the small and the big picture - and what's more integrates them. There is no book on education change that comes close to Senge et al's sweeping and detailed treatment. Classroom, school, community, systems, citizenry---it's all there. The core message is stirring: what if we viewed schools as a means of shifting society for the better! -Michael Fullan, author of "Change Leader" and "Learning Places" "A rich, much-needed remedy for the standardized, assembly-line, industrial-age institutions that comprise too much of our school system today. Chock full of useful tools, ideas, and exercises, this book is ideal for the many teachers and parents who are intent on resurrecting and fostering students' inherent drive to learn. For educators working to reconnect learning with real life, SCHOOLS THAT LEARN is as essential resource." -Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND "The idea that schools themselves can and must learn is the most important idea in education and this is the classic and indispensable guide to how that happens." --David W. Orr, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College "This book is an absolute feast of riches; its many stories and case examples prove once again that 'the solutions we need are already here' - solutions created by the caring, generosity and brilliance of everyday people working in education." --Margaret J. Wheatley, author of "Leadership and the New Science" and many other books. "This book is an essential chronicle of where our schools and communities are truly caring for our children. A much needed antidote to the assault on teachers and public education that dominates the news. A book of modern educational heroes and the thinking that is the foundation of their work." -Peter Block. author of "Community: The Art of Belonging" "At a time when "Schools that Learn is a magnificent, grand book that pays equal attention to the small and the big picture - and what's more integrates them. There is no book on education change that comes close to Senge et al's sweeping and detailed treatment. Classroom, school, community, systems, citizenry---it's all there. The core message is stirring: what if we viewed schools as a means of shifting society for the better! -Michael Fullan, author of "Change Leader" and "Learning Places" "A rich, much-needed remedy for the standardized, assembly-line, industrial-age institutions that comprise too much of our school system today. Chock full of useful tools, ideas, and exercises, this book is ideal for the many teachers and parents who are intent on resurrecting and fostering students' inherent drive to learn. For educators working to reconnect learning with real life, SCHOOLS THAT LEARN is as essential resource." - Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND "The idea that schools themselves can and must learn is the most important idea in education and this is the classic and indispensable guide to how that happens." --David W. Orr, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College "This book is an essential chronicle of where our schools and communities are truly caring for our children. A much needed antidote to the assault on teachers and public education that dominates the news. A book of modern educational heroes and the thinking that is the foundation of their work." - Peter Block. author of "Community: The Art of Belonging" "At a time when school reform has become synonymous with ill-conceived initiatives, it is refreshing to encounter a book that offers hopeful ideas, grounded in experience." -Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education at New York University and author "of The Life and Death of The American School System" Acclaim f "A rich, much-needed remedy for the standardized, assembly-line, industrial-age institutions that comprise too much of our school system today. Chock full of useful tools, ideas, and exercises, this book is ideal for the many teachers and parents who are intent on resurrecting and fostering students' inherent drive to learn. For educators working to reconnect learning with real life, SCHOOLS THAT LEARN is as essential resource." - Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of DRIVE and A WHOLE NEW MIND "The idea that schools themselves can and must learn is the most important idea in education and this is the classic and indispensable guide to how that happens." --David W. Orr, Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics at Oberlin College "At a time when school reform has become synonymous with ill-conceived initiatives, it is refreshing to encounter a book that offers hopeful ideas, grounded in experience." -Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education at New York University and author "of The Life and Death of The American School System" Acclaim for the original edition: "Today, more than ever, all the forces within society must join together to prepare our children to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Schools That Learn is an important resource for all those wanting to tackle the challenge of integrating family, school, faith community, and policymakers into one coalition on behalf of children." --Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center, Associate Dean, Yale School of Medicine "I don't know of a country that is happy with its educational system. That is because most schools are crafted for the mass production ethic of industrial society. Changing this obsolete state of affairs is the best investment that a government or community can make. This book can help; it shows how schools can reorient themselves to emphasize humanity,0 Advance Praise for the Updated and Revised Edition of" Schools that Learn " "The idea that schools themselves can and must learn is the most important idea in education and "Schools That Learn" is the classic and indispensable guide to how that happens." -David W. Orr, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Politics Oberlin College, author of Earth in Mind and Ecological Literacy. Acclaim for the original edition: "Today, more than ever, all the forces within society must join together to prepare our children to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Schools That Learn is an important resource for all those wanting to tackle the challenge of integrating family, school, faith community, and policymakers into one coalition on behalf of children." --Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center, Associate Dean, Yale School of Medicine "I don't know of a country that is happy with its educational system. That is because most schools are crafted for the mass production ethic of industrial society. Changing this obsolete state of affairs is the best investment that a government or community can make. This book can help; it shows how schools can reorient themselves to emphasize humanity, adventure, entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and experimentation, instead of rote learning." --Kenichi Ohmae, author of The Mind of the Strategist and The Invisible Continent "I plan to read long passages to my daughter. Whenever I think about the world in which she (and her children) will grow up, the educational system seems to be the locus of both hope and despair. Reading this book is like opening the curtains and letting in rays of hope, illuminating an entire, systemic, detailed map for change." --Howard Rheingold, author, The Virtual Community What Educators and Students Say About How Our Schools Work: "It took8 Advance Acclaim for Schools That Learn "Today, more than ever, all the forces within society must join together to prepare our children to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Schools That Learn is an important resource for all those wanting to tackle the challenge of integrating family, school, faith community, and policymakers into one coalition on behalf of children." --Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center, Associate Dean, Yale School of Medicine "I don't know of a country that is happy with its educational system. That is because most schools are crafted for the mass production ethic of industrial society. Changing this obsolete state of affairs is the best investment that a government or community can make. This book can help; it shows how schools can reorient themselves to emphasize humanity, adventure, entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and experimentation, instead of rote learning." --Kenichi Ohmae, author of The Mind of the Strategist and The Invisible Continent "I plan to read long passages to my daughter. Whenever I think about the world in which she (and her children) will grow up, the educational system seems to be the locus of both hope and despair. Reading this book is like opening the curtains and letting in rays of hope, illuminating an entire, systemic, detailed map for change." --Howard Rheingold, author, The Virtual Community What Educators and Students Say About How Our Schools Work "It took us three years to define the standards we expected of students, because we engaged the community from the beginning. It mattered to us that [the people of Memphis] own the standards." --1999 U.S. Superintendent of the Year Gerry House "Ordinarily, teachers are taught to work as individuals, so staff development has to help them learn to work together. And it needs to be an ongoing process, with enough time to learn ne Advance Acclaim for Schools That Learn: "Today, more than ever, all the forces within society must join together to prepare our children to meet the challenges of our rapidly changing world. Schools That Learn is an important resource for all those wanting to tackle the challenge of integrating family, school, faith community, and policymakers into one coalition on behalf of children." --Dr. James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry, Yale Child Study Center, Associate Dean, Yale School of Medicine "I don't know of a country that is happy with its educational system. That is because most schools are crafted for the mass production ethic of industrial society. Changing this obsolete state of affairs is the best investment that a government or community can make. This book can help; it shows how schools can reorient themselves to emphasize humanity, adventure, entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and experimentation, instead of rote learning." --Kenichi Ohmae, author of The Mind of the Strategist and The Invisible Continent "I plan to read long passages to my daughter. Whenever I think about the world in which she (and her children) will grow up, the educational system seems to be the locus of both hope and despair. Reading this book is like opening the curtains and letting in rays of hope, illuminating an entire, systemic, detailed map for change." --Howard Rheingold, author, The Virtual Community What Educators and Students Say About How Our Schools Work "It took us three years to define the standards we expected of students, because we engaged the community from the beginning. It mattered to us that [the people ofMemphis] own the standards." --1999 U.S. Superintendent of the Year Gerry House "Ordinarily, teachers are taught to work as individuals, so staff development has to help them learn to work together. And it needs to be an ongoing process, with enough time to learn new ways of teaching, to develop esprit de corps, and to unlearn old habits." --Ed Joyner, executive director of the Yale School Development Program "We work harder than kids in other schools. But we have more fun doing it. All the kids have different rates of learning, so the teachers keep up different rates of training." --Students at a "five disciplines" -oriented middle school in Chelmsford, Massachusetts