The Global Fourth Way: The Quest for Educational Excellence

by Andy Hargreaves, Dennis Shirley

Learn from global lessons of successful educational change!

Deep and lasting educational reform doesn′t happen overnight, even in this fast and flexible 21st century. This example-packed sequel to The Fourth Way draws upon inspiring examples unearthed by brand new research to challenge educational leaders, teachers, and policy makers to put proven strategies to work promoting student learning and achievement and the high quality teaching that drives it. With striking success stories from diverse systems around the world, Andy Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley present a bold new vision for education aimed

Focusing on the real-life, nitty-gritty challenges facing change leaders on a global scaleAnticipating stumbling blocks to enacting best principles and practicesDeveloping and implementing a dynamic and coherent plan of action and culture of determination to overcome challenges to lasting change

Genres: Education

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

About the author

Andy Hargreaves is Research Professor at Boston College, Visiting Professor at the University of Ottawa, Distinguished Visiting Professor at Hong Kong University, Professor II at the University of Stavanger, and Honorary Professor at Swansea University. He is Past President of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, Adviser in Education to the First Minister of Scotland and from 2016-2018 to the Premier of Ontario. Andy is founder of the Atlantic Rim Collaboratory (ARC): a group of 9 nations committed to broadly defined excellence, equity, wellbeing, inclusion, democracy and human rights.
Andy has consulted with the OECD, the World Bank, governments, universities and professional associations worldwide. He has given keynote addresses in 50 countries, 47 US states and all Australian states and Canadian provinces. Andy’s more than 30 books have attracted multiple Outstanding Writing Awards. Andy is ranked in the top 20 scholars with most influence on US education policy debate. In 2015, Boston College gave him its Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award. He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Education University of Hong Kong and the University of Uppsala in Sweden.

Reviews

[Tara Brabazon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book. A subtitle for The Global Fourth Way could be what Australian politicians and educational policy makers are doing wrong. When reading this book, there is a startling realization that the characteristics of standardized and under-performing schools and learning environments are found in current Australian educational policy and educational managers.

This book uses words like benchmarking, standards, excellence, quality and imagination with rigour, care and respect. Andy Hargreaves and Dennis Shirley understand the difference between standards and standardization. They grant attention to 'leadership' and 'professional capital' is a way that is both applicable and practical.

This is a fine book for researchers and teachers who are interested in understanding how quality learning and teaching can be created.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb primer in international benchmarking in education, with a convincing comparison of diverse nations' education systems that emphasizes the alignment of systems and cultural values, rather than a menu of quick fixes for educational leaders to adopt a la carte.