Moving towards a learning organization? : a study at a local secondary school

Abstract

The dissertation starts with a review of the literature about individual and collective learning keeping in mind the concept of the Learning Organization. It uses mixed methodology to try and find out whether, in the light of recent educational events, a local secondary school had been moving towards becoming a learning organization at the time of research (2000-2001 ). When one reads such literature as Charles Handy's The Age of Unreason (1990) and Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organization (1993) one cannot but feel the urge to reinvent education to cater for all individuals and for schools to be seen as successful. Reasons that show why such readings inspired me include the following. While one is carrying out one's duties as a teacher or as an administrator one has the feeling that one is not really connecting with a substantial amount of individuals and that there must be something wrong somewhere. But, one does not know quite what it is and where it is. Literature as the above shows that we need to think and act in a completely different way. Also, as one goes about one's work and reflects on it for a time throughout the years, one is bound to have 'hunches' of how things should be done. One such hunch I had was that one should not just teach students content but should also teach them how to learn. Another such hunch was that an administrator should act as a coach, mentor and facilitator of learning with his/her staff rather than as a controlling superior. What I felt was needed was a theory to make sense of such 'hunches' or bits and pieces of good practice that were stumbled upon here and there. What attracted me to Learning Organization Theory was that it seemed to fit in with some aspects of my practice. It put things in their proper place for me! The main conclusion of this dissertation shows that at the time the research was undertaken the school under observation had some building blocks that could lead to the school becoming a Learning Organization. However if the school community wants to move closer to the concept of a learning organization it has to take other measures. More discussion about the topic is needed and the administration has to show more commitment to the concept of a learning organization. Other recommendations, that could bring the school closer to the concept of a learning organization, are given in the last chapter. It is hoped that the results of this dissertation would spark off discussion about learning organizations in the school concerned so that the school would adopt the concept of the learning organization as its vision. This would give the school a sense of purpose and direction. This dissertation is also seen as having a value for other local schools. It portrays a research method, which could be used, by other local schools interested in the concept of a learning organization.