Building a Culture of Learning: Systems Thinking for School Leadership

Outline

Opening - Connect participants with the basic principles of systems thinking. Using the 14 Habits of A Systems Thinker cards (which we will provide), participants will begin to connect their leadership and professional learning practices with principles of systems thinking.
Presenters will share about the connections between Systems Thinking, systems leadership and how to leverage systems thinking to develop shared leadership and accountability in a school system. The 14 Habits of a Systems Thinker provide the day-to-day practices that build systems thinking capacity. When applied, the 14 Habits hold promise to break down silos, establish a shared vision for the future, and inspire open and more honest dialogue.
At The Waters Center for Systems Thinking, we believe that meaningful learning and shifts in practices come from sharing experiences that generate deep thinking in a low-risk environment. We use physical simulations and games to establish a deliberate common experience for learners and then use reflective questioning to connect the simulation to professional practice. Over this section of our session participants will learn three simulations and how to debrief them, using the Habits cards, so that they can implement them in their local context. We will engage participants with simulations and model debriefs.
To conclude the session, the presenters will help participants reflect on the simulations and content that might be applicable to their own contexts.

Supporting research

Benson, T., & Marlin, S. (2021) The Habit-Forming Guide to becoming a Systems Thinker. (2nd ed.)

Benson, T., etal (2010) Tracing Connections: Voices of Systems Thinkers, Chapter 4, “Changing School Culture: Creating Student-Centered Classrooms,” isee systems and Creative Learning Exchange.

Senge, P. (2006). The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization

Sweeney, L. B., & Meadows, D. (2010). The systems thinking playbook: Exercises to stretch and build learning and systems thinking capabilities (3rd ed.). Chelsea Green Publishing.

Richmond, B. (1997). The "thinking" in systems thinking: How can we make it easier to master? Systems Thinker, 8(2), 1-5.