The first two articles are pretty much trade journal articles providing a light explanation of school culture. I
provided these so you could introduce yourself to the concepts. The latter two articles are much more scholarly
and academic. These are much more important and should be perused more carefully.
Assignment: Address the following in a brief paper. This does not have to be a formal paper (format) and there
is no length requirement. In the end, these will serve as your notes. The only requirement is that you answer
the questions or prompt below. This work is designed to build your capacity to complete a School Cultural
Analysis for your school improvement plan.
Prompts:
After reading the following, how would you define school culture (simply)?
What components make up school culture as noted in the two research works?
What impact can good and bad school culture have on school improvement efforts?
On page 10 & 11 of the School Culture (Stoll) journal article, how did researchers go about measuring or
offering a summative judgment of a school’s culture? What factors did they use?
How did the research study in the School Culture Article measure a school culture e.g. how did they collect
data? Etc.
What were the four components of Hargreaves’s teaching culture?
If you had the time and accessibility, what methods would you use to assess your school’s culture? …..the
research study gives a few examples
Note: you will not be expected to carry out an actual cultural analysis…given our current restrictions on
interactions; however, you will simulate an analysis based on your perceptions.
Articles – when you access the Australian Journal article, you may want to leave it open in a separate tab or
take pictures. The journal only gives you a few clicks for the day.
11 Real Ways to Build a Positive School Culture
https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/school-culture (Links to an external site.)
School Culture and Change as Learning
https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/53502_Kaplan_chapter_1.pdf (Links to an external
site.)
Australian Journal - School Culture: Teachers' Beliefs, Behaviors, and Instructional Practices
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.918.9280&rep=rep1&type=pdf (Links to an external
site.)
School Culture
https://usm.instructure.com/courses/54732/files?preview=4581738&sort=created_at&order=desc
Sample Solution