Collective efficacy has become a prominent feature in educational policy and practice with growing evidence that a strong sense of collective efficacy amongst educators leads to better outcomes for students. With growing interest in the importance of collective efficacy and how to cultivate it, the Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool was created to address challenges associated with understanding, diagnosing, and developing collective efficacy.
This Framework describes the development of the Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool, defining collective efficacy in a way that it can be operationalised to leverage improvement efforts. The Framework and accompanying Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool provide a practical resource for educators and researchers interested in understanding and developing collective efficacy that positively impacts student outcomes.
CONTINUING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
This Framework and the accompanying Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool provide a means for schools and researchers to understand, measure and evaluate schools’ initiatives supporting the development of collective efficacy. Testing and refinement of the Tool will continue to ensure the accuracy of its descriptions and its usefulness for building collective efficacy. We invite others to engage with the Tool as a means of supporting and evaluating school improvement initiatives and further research activities.
ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY
To support schools to strengthen collective efficacy and build high functioning teams, the Incubator is collaborating with a technology company to create an online platform, Rising Team for Schools. The platform aims to empower leaders and teams to build engaged, connected and successful teams and to track collective efficacy. Unlike traditional leadership and team development methods that might be delivered through training courses (without tools or specific mechanisms to engage teams), or through facilitators (that can be expensive and don’t afford scale), the Rising Team for Schools platform provides software-driven, interactive team sessions that are easily facilitated by a team member in a school.
INVITATION TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY
The Menzies School Leadership Incubator aspires to contribute to the systemic changes required to build a pipeline of school leaders well equipped to lead increasingly challenging and complex school contexts; ultimately improving the learning outcomes for all Australian school students. This Framework and the accompanying Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool does not provide all the solutions; however, it does provide a means to consider the implementation of collective efficacy and what’s required to cultivate it.
The Menzies School Leadership Incubator actively welcomes others to join in its activities to incubate ideas and co-create solutions. If you’re interested in finding out more or accessing any of the resources, please get in touch.
The Collective Efficacy Tracking Tool was developed in partnership between Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and Menzies Foundation through the work of the Menzies School Leadership Incubator. Significant thanks go to the Collier Charitable Fund, for their three year commitment, supporting the three female, Victorian Government school leaders, Collier School Leader Fellows; Karen Snibson, Maria Karvouni and Anne Stout.
We’d also like to thank the many people who have provided their input and contributed their ideas into the development of the framework, in particular the Collaborative Team members, Menzies Fellows, and the many other school leaders we’ve engaged with who have informed this work and afford the learning to happen. We also thank Jonathan Heard for his considered input into the Tool, and Liz Gillies and Sarah Jenkins for their review.
