| Session Title: Habits of Mind: Promoting Evaluative Thinking |
| Think Tank Session 125 to be held in Room 111 in the Convention Center on Wednesday, Nov 5, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Pre-K - 12 Educational Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Debra Smith, University of Southern Maine, dsmith@usm.maine.edu |
| Discussant(s): |
| Hallie Tamez, The Philanthropic Initiative, jhtamez@accessvt.com |
| Abstract: Billions of dollars spent on K-12 school reform and professional development efforts have not resulted, for the most part, in fundamental changes. Schools and districts are indeed 'over their heads' (Kegan 1994) in trying to make systemic change with familiar strategies. In this think tank, the facilitators will describe an initiative in three school districts that has supported complex, adaptive change through cultivating the organizational and individual habits of mind necessary to improving teaching practice and student learning; habits that that enable people to learn and think evaluatively. An embedded evaluation process has been an integral part of this work. Participants will then engage in discussion of questions relevant to this and similar initiatives. |