Leadership and Management Development in Education (Education ...

THE CURRICULUM FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: CONTENT AND PROCESS51opportunities for structured investigations, problem based learning, and reflectiveactivities. There can also be considerable gains from understanding anddeveloping the potential of e-learning.Learning approachesThe literature shows that there is only limited value in didactic approaches andconsiderable gain from active learning. Wherever possible, learning objectivesshould be attainable through different means. In this respect there is a need todevelop batteries of materials and approaches designed to present the samemessage(s) in different ways, including e-learning opportunities.Learning supportThere is evidence that people designated as tutors, mentors, coaches and facilitatorsmay not understand their role and may have been selected on the basisthat they are perceived to be, or to have been, successful leaders. To ensureeffective support, there is a need for careful matching, and ongoing evaluationof relationships, and the quality of support (Bush et al. 2007b).These four dimensions are normative constructs, the authors’ views on howleadership learning can be enhanced through these four processes. However,in practice, much leadership and management development is content-led,with a knowledge-based curriculum. Bjork and Murphy (2005: 15), drawing onexperience in the USA, provide a salutary comment on the contrast betweenthe exciting potential for active learning and the prosaic reality of manyleadership courses:Although convincing theoretical and empirical evidence support the useof active learning including simulations, case studies, practice-based andproblem-based learning … professor-centred rather than student orientedinstructional strategies persist. Most courses are delivered using a lectureformat that is viewed as being isolated, passive and sterile knowledgeacquisition.Finding an appropriate balance between content and process remains a veryreal challenge for those who design, and those who experience, leadership andmanagement development programmes.