Using Knowledge Management as an Administrator
Administrators have the ability to use knowledge themselves to make decisions and take action or they can facilitate the management of knowledge within their schools or districts by coaching and collaboration within the groups they supervise. The other side of that, though, is understanding who their audience is when they need to understand the knowledge management aspect. Using both tacit and explicit knowledge, administrators can create knowledge management systems in which that can pull data as needed and for certain groups with whom they work and for varying purposes.
For example, with teachers, principals may use some or all of the following examples:
Administrators are charged with multiple points of accountability and can use almost any data piece that comes into their hands. The idea is to ensure that the data is being used for a specific purpose.
One example of this would be in curricular decisions. The principal would need to know what data he or she would use when making these decisions.
As the gatekeeper for much of the data, the administrator can play a powerful role in the collection and dissemination of knowledge.
For example, with teachers, principals may use some or all of the following examples:
- Teacher evaluation and/or observation data that is compiled
- Student perception surveys
- Teacher perception and/or employee perception surveys
- Parent perception surveys
- Student demographic information
- Student assessment data
- Student work
Administrators are charged with multiple points of accountability and can use almost any data piece that comes into their hands. The idea is to ensure that the data is being used for a specific purpose.
One example of this would be in curricular decisions. The principal would need to know what data he or she would use when making these decisions.
- Teacher evaluation and/or observation data that is compiled – From this information, the administrator could see trends in instruction that were tied to the curriculum.
- Student perception surveys – Administrators can determine student interests and needs that can be met from developing a comprehensive curriculum driven by student interest.
- Teacher perception and/or employee perception surveys – Teacher perceptions may help drive curricular decisions, but ultimately, teachers should be involved in curriculum design.
- Parent perception surveys – Review of curriculum and/or involvement in text selections is a common tool used to engage the community while gathering valuable information.
- Student demographic information – Curriculum should not only reflect the standards, but the students who are learning the curriculum.
- Student assessment data – This can be used to help drive changes in the curriculum or revisions.
- Student work – Student work would show how the students are responding to both the curriculum and the instruction, so it would give data back on both.
As the gatekeeper for much of the data, the administrator can play a powerful role in the collection and dissemination of knowledge.
For more information about the role of leaders in knowledge management.