From Learned Helplessness To Learned Efficacy: An Action Science Approach To Continuing Professional Education For Comprehensive School Reform

摘要

This paper reports the progress and second year findings that flow from a multi-year actionresearch strategy aimed at comprehensive school reform in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A learned helplessness model is presented as an explanation for why schools continue to struggle withimplementing comprehensive reform strategies. An alternative model is offered as a blueprint forempowerment and learned efficacy. Examples from action research projects implemented duringthe 2002-03 academic year provide evidence that substantial progress can be made in building alearning community within the real world setting of an urban public school system.