Collective Efficacy: How Educators' Beliefs Impact Student Learning: How Educators' Beliefs Impact Student Learning

by Jenni Donohoo

Improve student outcomes with collective teacher efficacy. If educators’ realities are filtered through the belief that they can do very little to influence student achievement, then it is likely these beliefs will manifest in their practice. The solution? Collective efficacy (CE)―the belief that, through collective actions, educators can influence student outcomes and increase achievement. Educators with high efficacy show greater effort and persistence, willingness to try new teaching approaches, and attend more closely to struggling students’ needs. This book presents practical strategies and tools for increasing student achievement by

Genres: Education, Leadership, Nonfiction, Professional Development

152 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2017

About the author

Jenni Anne Marie Donohoo

Reviews

[Julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of dry pedagogy. There are some interesting points, but the title & synopsis are a bit misleading.

[Lexie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book was so repetitive, dry, unilluminating that I couldn’t waste anymore time on it. Logic is also flawed, which is a sign of trying to make something that isn’t a new concept seem shiny and new. Donohoo just slaps a new fancy name to “collaboration.” Honestly, if a teacher doesn’t collaborate with his or her colleagues, then there’s little to no growth in that teacher anyway. We’re social beings that learn from each other. This book takes that age-old concept and wraps it with sandpaper and calls it the Caribbean. Don’t waste your time! Skip the book and go sit on the beach with your team and learn from each other.

[Calvin Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful and accessible guide for developing collective efficacy among educational staff (teachers primarily) using a collaborative learning framework. Some parts are explicitly useful and practical, such as some of the figures (e.g. Enabling conditions for collective teacher efficacy; four-stage models for collaborative teacher/leader inquiry; peer coaching cycle), and the practical Resources in the back pages. Yet other parts of the text seem repetitive, verbose and unnecessary; anecdotes felt useful at some points and superfluous at others. It also felt as if once the concept of 'efficacy' was connected to collaborative beliefs/effort through established research, it was then subsumed beneath the focus on building collaborative capacity. The writing is accessible and structure of the texts beneficial for quick reference. This text would be useful for educational leaders looking for a more collaborative model to build collective endeavour within a body of staff.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paints a vivid and compelling case for the power of collective efficacy. Timely and important as this was recently installed as the line-leader of Hattie's list of Influences on Student Achievement.

I really liked how this moves the conversation in education out of technical solutions to simple challenges (task-level) and into finding ways to tackle adaptive challenges for complex issues. It's about empowering teachers to recognize the process of creating long-lasting change through their mutual believe they can positively affect student learning.

Very practical steps and guidance on how to make it happen. I'm excited to see how I can weave these ideas and frameworks into my job.

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Donohoo presents a common sense philosophy on working together with reminders and strategies to support implementation. This was a good reminder of how to support and empower colleagues in a workplace in a positive way but doesn't bring anything new. This is a good read if you need a reminder of how to work well with others.

[Joyce Yattoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for someone just starting out in his/her teaching career and doesn’t quite yet realize the effect of a group of professionals collaborating together. Or, good for any PLC or team that struggles working together as a team.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our school read this as our PD for the school year. While some of the chapters felt repetitive and useless, others were informative and helpful. Not a very long book and easy enough to understand. The resources at the end for meeting mechanics definitely the best portion.

[Christen Parton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was great information and I think reading the actual book instead of the audiobook would have been better because the amount of citations that are embedded. Reading this one with John Hattie’s book allows for so many connections to be made.

[Robin Pennell]

Dry and typical.

[Katy Berenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a must read for anyone who’s in the educational field and/or coaching & mentoring environment. Very informative and inspirational!

[Suzzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collaborative model

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good ideas- spent more time than helpful.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read on collective efficacy and why to support it.

[Zachery Deleski-Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I read this as paperback instead of audiobook as there was a lot of information I wanted to refer back to. Overall, good book on a great topic. It had some great ideas that I may implement within my building.