![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
Purpose:
Using Activity Theory as an interpretive lens to examine the distribution of leadership, this paper shares a case study on how leadership for an ICT project was distributed in a Singapore school.
Method:
The case study involved observations of 49 meetings and 34 interviews of leaders and the teachers who were involved in the ICT project.
Findings:
Applying the lens of third-generation Activity Theory helped to reveal two main interrelated activity systems, and the leadership actions performed by senior and middle management. The two activity systems comprised the school and the ICT project. The focus in Activity Theory on the social–cultural perspective highlighted the role played by social norms in mediating the leadership activity.
Implications for future research:
The conclusion focuses on the understanding of distributed leadership as analysed through the lens of Activity Theory and suggests future research directions. Activity Theory enables research on distributed leadership to identify and examine interrelated activity systems that various leaders are involved in, and how these impact the leadership provided.
Keywords Distributed leadership, Activity Theory, technology
References
Section:
|
Anderson, RE, Dexter, S (2005) School technology leadership: An empirical investigation of prevalence and effect. Educational Administration Quarterly 41: 49–82. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Barab, SA, Barnett, M, Yamagata-Lynch, L. (2002) Using Activity Theory to understand the systemic tensions characterizing a technology-rich introductory astronomy course. Mind, Culture and Activity 9(2): 76–107. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Barab, SA, Schatz, S, Scheckler, R (2004) Using Activity Theory to conceptualize online community and using online community to conceptualize Activity Theory. Mind, Culture and Activity 11(1): 25–47. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Baylor, AL, Ritchie, D (2002) What factors facilitate teacher skill, teacher morale, and perceived student learning in technology-using classrooms? Computers and Education 39: 395–414. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Bennett, N, Wise, C, Woods, P. (2003) Distributed Leadership. Available at: http://www.ncsl.org.uk/media/3C4/A2/distributed-leadership-literature-review.pdf (accessed 12 September 2010). Google Scholar | |
|
Brown, CJ, Rojan, A (2002) Teacher Leadership Project 2002: Evaluation Report. Mount Vernon, WA: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Google Scholar | |
|
Busher, H, Harris, A (1999) Leadership of school subject areas: Tensions and dimensions of managing in the middle. School Leadership and Management 19(3): 305–317. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Charmaz, K (2006) Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. London: Sage Publications Ltd. Google Scholar | |
|
Coldren, AF, Spillane, JP (2007) Making connections to teaching practice: The role of boundary practices in instructional leadership. Educational Policy 21(2): 369–396. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Collis, B, Margaryan, A (2004) Applying Activity Theory to computer-supported collaborative learning and work-based activities in corporate settings. ETR & D 52(4): 38–52. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Creswell, JW (2005) Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill. Google Scholar | |
|
Cuban, L (2001) Oversold and Underused Computers in the Classroom. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Google Scholar | |
|
Daniels, H (2004) Activity Theory, discourse and Bernstein. Educational Review 56(2): 121–132. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Divaharan, S (2007) Secondary School Socio-Cultural Context Influencing Teachers’ Type of ICT Use - A Case Study Approach. Singapore: Nanyang Technological University. Google Scholar | |
|
Elmore, RF (2000) Building a new structure for school leadership. Available at: http://www.shankerinstitute.org/Downloads/building.pdf (accessed 18 March 2015). Google Scholar | |
|
Engeström, Y (1999) Expansive visibilization of work: An activity–theoretical perspective. Computer Supported Cooperative Work 8: 63–93. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Engeström, Y (2001) Expansive learning at work: Toward an activity theoretical reconceptualization. Journal of Education and Work 14(1): 133–156. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Engeström, Y (2004) Activity theory and individual and social transformation. In: Engeström, Y, Miettinen, R, Punamaki, R-L (eds) Perspectives on Activity Theory. New York: Cambridge University Press, pp.19–38. Google Scholar | |
|
Engeström, Y (2008) Weaving the texture of school change. Journal of Educational Change 9: 379–383. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Flanagan, L, Jacobsen, M (2003) Technology leadership for the twenty-first century principal. Journal of Educational Administration 41: 124–142. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Gibson, I (2005) Transforming education: Linking technology, work, community and lifelong learning in a secondary college. In: Trinidad, S, Pearson, J (eds) Using Information and Communication Technologies in Education: Effective Leadership Change and Models of Best Practice. Singapore: Prentice-Hall, pp.118–133. Google Scholar | |
|
Gronn, P (2000) Distributed properties: A new architecture for leadership. Educational Management and Administration 28(3): 317–338. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Gronn, P (2002a) Distributed leadership. In: Leithwood, K, Hallinger, P (eds) Second International Handbook of Educational Leadership and Administration. Norwell, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp.653–693. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Gronn, P (2002b) Distributed leadership as a unit of analysis. The Leadership Quarterly 13: 423–451. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Gronn, P (2003) Leadership: who needs it? School Leadership & Management 23(3): 267–290. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Gunter (2001) Leaders and Leadership in Education. London: Paul Chapman Publishing. Google Scholar | |
|
Hallinger, P (2005) Instructional leadership and the school principal: A passing fancy that refuses to fade away. Leadership and Policy in Schools 4: 1–20. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Harris, A (2005) Distributed leadership. In: Davies, B (ed.) The Essentials of School Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Inc., pp.160–172. Google Scholar | |
|
Hartley, D (2009) Education policy, distributed leadership and socio-cultural theory. Educational Review 61: 139–150. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Hartley, D (2010) Paradigms: How far does research in distributed leadership ‘stretch’? Educational Management Administration & Leadership 38(3): 271–285. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Hung, DWL, Chen, VDT (2002) Learning within the context of communities of practices: A re-conceptualization of tools, rules and roles of the activity system. Education Media International 39(3-4): 247–255. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Issroff, K, Scanlon, E (2002) Using technology in higher education: An Activity Theory perspective. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 18(1): 77–83. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Jonassen, D (1999a) Computers as mindtools for engaging critical thinking and representing knowledge. In: EdTech 99 main conference, Singapore, 9-11 February 1999. Google Scholar | |
|
Jonassen, D (1999b) Computers as Mindtools for Schools: Engaging Critical Thinking. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Google Scholar | |
|
Jonassen, DH (2000) Revisiting Activity Theory as a framework for designing student-centred learning environments. In: Jonassen, DH, Land, SM (eds) Theoretical Foundations of Learning Environments. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, pp.89–121. Google Scholar | |
|
Kelceoglu, I (2006) An Exploratory Study of First Year Elementary Teachers’ Utilization of Technology. PhD Thesis, Ohio State University. Google Scholar | |
|
Kincaid, T, Feldner, L (2002) Leadership for technology integration: The role of Principals and mentors. Educational Technology & Society 5(1): 75–80. Google Scholar | |
|
Kozma, R, Anderson, RE (2002) Qualitative case studies of innovative pedagogical practices using ICT. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning 18: 387–394. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Lincoln, YS, Guba, EG (1985) Naturalistic Inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications Inc. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Lumby, J (2013) Distributed leadership: The uses and abuses of power. Educational Management Administration & Leadership 41(5): 581–597. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Maddux, CD, Johnson, DL (2005) Type II applications of technology in education. Computers in the Schools 22(1/2): 1–6. Google Scholar | |
|
Marken, JA (2006) Activity Theory as a Lens for Considering Culture: A Descriptive Case Study of a Multinational Company Developing and Supporting Training Around the World. PhD Thesis, Technology Department of the School of Education, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Google Scholar | |
|
Martinez, MA (2002) Principal behaviors that influence teacher use of technology in Massachusetts. PhD Thesis, Providence, RI: Johnson and Wales University. Google Scholar | |
|
Mayrowetz, D (2008) Making sense of distributed leadership: Exploring the multiple usages of the concept in the field. Educational Administration Quarterly 44(3): 424–435. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Mercer, D, Ri, L (2006) Closing the gap: The role of head of department in Chinese secondary schools. Educational Management Administration and Leadership 34(1): 105–120. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Merriam, SB (2002) Introduction to qualitative research. In: Merriam, SB (ed.) Qualitative Research in Practice: Examples for Discussion and Analysis. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, pp.3–17. Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2004a) Masterplan for IT in education: Infrastructure. Available at: http://www3.moe.edu.sg/edumall/mpite/infrastructure/index.html (accessed 12 September 2010). Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2004b) Masterplan for IT in education: Professional Development. Available at: http://www3.moe.edu.sg/edumall/mpite/professional/index.html (accessed 12 September 2010). Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2005) Executive summary of mp2 review report, Singapore. Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2006a) Opening address by LG(NS) Lim Chuan Poh, Permanent Secretary (Education) for IT Seminar for Cluster Superintendents and Principals on 29 June 2006, Singapore. Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2006b) Overview of the Masterplan II for ICT in Education, Singapore. Available at: http://www3.moe.edu.sg/edumall/mp2/mp2.htm (accessed 12 Septemer 2010). Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (2007) Table 2: Grades in the Education Service, Singapore. Available at: http://www.moe.gov.sg/press/2007/files/pr20070330-annex.pdf (accessed 8 September 2014). Google Scholar | |
|
Murphy, DT, Gunter, GA (1997) Technology integration: The importance of administrative support. Educational Media International 34: 136–139. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Murphy, E, Manzanares, MAR (2008) Contradictions between the virtual and physical high school classroom: A third-generation ActivityTheory perspective. British Journal of Educational Technology 39: 1061–1072. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Murphy, J (2005) Connecting Teacher Leadership and School Improvement. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Google Scholar | |
|
Nelson, CP, Kim, M-K (2001) Contradictions, appropriations, and transformations: An Activity Theory approach to L2 writing and classroom practices. Texas Papers in Foreign Language Education 6(1): 37–62. Google Scholar | |
|
Roth, W-M, Tobin, K (2002) Redesigning an “urban” teacher education program: An Activity Theory perspective. Mind, Culture and Activity 9(2): 108–131. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Ryder, M (2007) What is Activity Theory? Available at: http://carbon.cudenver.edu/˜mryder/itc_data/act_dff.html (accessed 12 September 2010). Google Scholar | |
|
Sammons, P, Hillman, J, Mortimore, P (1995) Key Characteristics of Effective Schools: A Review of School Effectiveness Research. London: Institute of Education, University of London, 1–35. Google Scholar | |
|
Sannino, A, Nocon, H (2008) Introduction: Activity theory and school innovation. Journal of Educational Change 9: 325–328. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Sheppard, B (1996) Exploring the transformational nature of instructional leadership. Alberta Journal of Educational Research 42: 325–344. Google Scholar | ISI | |
|
Southworth, G (2002) Instructional leadership in schools: Reflections and empirical evidence. School Leadership & Management 22(1): 73–91. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Spillane, JP (2005) Primary school leadership practice: How the subject matters. School Leadership & Management 25(4): 383–397. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Spillane, JP (2006) Distributed leadership, San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Google Scholar | |
|
Spillane, JP, Camburn, E (2006) The Practice of Leading and Managing: The Distribution of Responsibility for Leadership and Management in the Schoolhouse. Available at: http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/dls/publications/papers/ (accessed 8 September 2014). Google Scholar | |
|
Spillane, JP, Camburn, E, Lewis, G (2006) Taking a distributed perspective in studying school leadership and management: Epistemological and methodological trade-offs (draft). Available at: http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm/12853 (accessed 8 September 2014). Google Scholar | |
|
Spillane, JP, Hallet, T, Diamond, JB (2003) Forms of capital and the construction of leadership: Instructional leadership in urban elementary schools. Sociology of Education 76(1): 1–17. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Spillane, JP, Halverson, R, Diamond, JB (2001) Investigating school leadership practice: A distributed perspective. Educational Researcher 30(3): 23–28. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Spillane, JP, Halverson, R, Diamond, JB (2004) Towards a theory of leadership practice: A distributed perspective. Journal of Curriculum Studies 36(1): 3–34. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Spillane, JP, Orlina, EC (2005) Investigating leadership practice: Exploring the entailments of taking a distributed perspective. Leadership and Policy in Schools 4: 157–176. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Venezky, RL, Davis, C (2002) Quo Vademus? The Transformation of Schooling in a Networked World. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/20/2073054.pdf (accessed 8 September 2014). Google Scholar | |
|
Woods, P, Gronn, P (2009) Nurturing democracy: The contribution of distributed leadership to a democratic organisational landscape. Educational Management Administration & Leadership 37(4): 430–451. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Woods, PA, Bennett, N, Harvey, JA. (2004) Variabilities and dualities in distributed leadership. Educational Management Administration and Leadership 32(4): 439–457. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
Yamagata-Lynch, L (2001) Using Activity Theory for the Sociocultural Case Analysis of a Teacher Development Program Involving Technology Integration. PhD Thesis, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. Google Scholar | |
|
Yamagata-Lynch, L (2003) Using Activity Theory as an analytic lens for examining technology professional development in schools. Mind, Culture and Activity 10(2): 100–119. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Yamazumi, K (2008) A hybrid activity system as educational innovation. Journal of Educational Change 9: 365–373. Google Scholar | Crossref |
