Journal article
Bungee jumping and rocket launching: Transformative learning for today’s transformational school leaders
International Journal of Educational Management, Vol.33(7), pp.1610-1624
2019
Abstract
Purpose: A plethora of principal development programs based on myriad leadership theories currently abounds in many educational jurisdictions globally. Today's principals, consequently and fortuitously, often feel less isolated and better supported that has been indicated in school leadership research over the past two decades. The purpose of this paper is to discover, however, how principals, through well-designed postgraduate study, can effectively become the transformational leaders, schools regularly require of them. Design/methodology/approach: Action research involving postgraduate leadership students at an Australian university over a two year period, involved three cycles: identification of leadership learning needs, introduction of innovations to their learning and identification of the transformative learning which contributed to their leadership development. Findings: Transformative learning impacts significantly on transformational leadership development. This happens when disorienting dilemmas challenge and open minds to possibilities, and paradigmatic assumptions are questioned. The ensuing awareness enables leaders to demonstrate characteristics of transformational leadership especially the dimension of individualised consideration. Originality/value: Few studies have aligned transformative learning with transformational leadership theory, but this paper found that school leaders benefit from transformative learning in their quest to become such a leader. The scariness of a metaphoric principal bungee-jump could ultimately lead to rocket launching of the most transformative kind.
Details
- Title
- Bungee jumping and rocket launching: Transformative learning for today’s transformational school leaders
- Authors
- Michael Christie (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastSusan E Simon (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastWayne A Graham (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastKairen Call (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastYvonne Farragher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- International Journal of Educational Management, Vol.33(7), pp.1610-1624
- Publisher
- Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1108/IJEM-09-2018-0288
- ISSN
- 0951-354X
- Organisation Unit
- School of Education and Tertiary Access; School of Business and Creative Industries; USC Business School - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Education - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451110202621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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