Case methodology helps principals become more effective leaders, reports McREL
February 28, 2008
Denver
—
The use of case methodology in leadership development programs helps principals gain the professional knowledge and wisdom necessary to become more effective decision makers, according to the latest in a series of issues-oriented publications from Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL), titled McREL Insights: From Knowledge to Wisdom: Using Case Methodology to Develop Effective Leaders.
Writers Greg Cameron, Cherie A. Lyons, and Jane A. Schumacher, all consultants at McREL, assert that case methodology (also referred to as case method analysis or problem-based learning) helps develop "true professional wisdom" by offering principals an opportunity to discuss actual problematic situations and their solutions with their colleagues.
These real-life stories, the authors write, illustrate the challenges that principals face in understanding their responsibilities and choosing which responsibilities to emphasize in particular situations. McREL's research on effective leadership, as described in School Leadership that Works: From Research to Results (ASCD, 2005), shows 21 responsibilities associated with improved student achievement.
McREL President and CEO Tim Waters said, "Through our research and Balanced Leadership professional development work, we have determined that the most effective school leaders know not only what to do but also how, why, and when to do it. Teaching principals the what and how is pretty straightforward, but knowing why and when comes from the deeper reflection and experience that case methodology requires."
While case methodology is used routinely in the preparation of doctors, lawyers, and business executives, it is "far from the norm in education leadership preparation or development programs," the authors write. However, "by examining the judgments the leader in the case made and reflecting on the results of those decisions, professionals, over time, can develop better judgment"—and without suffering the consequences of mistakes that other leaders have made.
McREL is a nationally recognized, private, nonprofit organization located in Denver, Colo., dedicated to improving education for all students through applied research, product development and service. In 2006, McREL provided research-based guidance to educators and policymakers in 42 states across the U.S.
