Wicked problems
Preview
Open in TheBrain
Fixing a broken school
Who Are the "stakeholders" and People/institutions/organisations Affected
Students
Indigenous Australians
Does pedagogy alone equate to positive outcomes?
Pedagogy alone does not meet the needs of all learners. Effective pedagogy should be supported by a system that enables the early identification of students requiring additional assistance before they experience failure. The Multitiered System of Supports (MTSS) considers more than how teaching is delivered in classrooms but also focuses on how individual learners can be supported. MTSS uses three triers of increasingly targeted support, allowing additional assistance to be implemented according to each learners’ individual learners needs (Australian Education Research Organisation [AERO], 2026)
Which educational theory or theories inform your analysis of the problem and how will this theory lens inform your analysis
Does a poor culture lead to poor educational outcomes?
Does a positive community make a difference to student outcome?
Parents
Does a poor culture lead to poor educational outcomes?
Why do schools with similar demographics experience significant differences in student engagement and educational outcomes?
Children
A positive culture is created when people share common values, visions, beliefs and attitudes, allowing community members to feel safe, valued and encouraged. Culture is strongly influenced by strong leadership, which helps shape the perception, attitude and behaviours of a school or workplace (NSW Government, 2023). In schools, strong leadership also supports a strong team that shares the responsibility for positive student outcomes (Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, 2023)
A Strong Pedagogical approach is one element of improving whole - school outcome. The learning environment and student wellbeing and equally important. Prompting students sense of belong and ability to have a voice and agency is linked with positive outcomes. Family and community involvement is also essential as a sense of pride, belonging and engagement support the growth and development of children (Department of Education, 2024). A positive school culture begins with strong leadership and involves five interconnected elements, leadership, teaching and learning, assessment, engagement and support and resources. Differences in how schools managed and support these areas may explain why schools with similar demographics experience different levels of academic achievements and school engagement (Department of Education, 2024).
The Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership framework suggests that positive outcomes are supported by trust, transparency and a shared vision developed through a strong educational team. It also emphasise that effective leadership, which priories students learning and wellbeing, helps create a positive school community that improves students outcomes (Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership, 2023)