An Organization That Learns

This is a 2.5hr Deep Dive Workshop

Think about it: how can an organization get better if it’s not learning something new? Whether it’s improving student learning, solving a problem, or rolling out a new program, you need fresh perspectives and actions to make progress. Without learning, schools—and people—persist in outdated practices.

Leaders might think that making their institution better is simply about laying out a clear vision and throwing a bunch of professional development at teachers. But this approach is risky, especially with increasing parent demands, enrollment pressures, tech advances, and diverse student needs. Schools need to learn more than ever to keep up with these challenges. Essentially, every school needs to become a learning organization.

So how is a learning organization defined? A learning organization is an institution skilled at creating, acquiring, and transferring knowledge, and at modifying its behavior to reflect new knowledge and insights.

This session will not be a utopian, nebulous view on cultural change. We will focus on the specific, tangible actions leadership can take by studying the three key ingredients for building an organization that learns:

1. Leadership That Reinforces Learning: Leaders who role model and promote learning.
2. A Supportive Environment: A space where learning is safe and encouraged.
3. Concrete Processes and Practices: Clear systems for learning and improvement.