Rationales

=__Rationales for Projects__=

Dean Leadership Project Rationale: (Why are we undertaking this project?)
The Dean Leadership Project is intended to further develop each Academic Dean’s: · Capacity to think “globally” about the organization. · Skill in identifying and understanding critical success factors. · Skill in identifying and understanding performance gaps. · Understanding of the interdependency of all the internal systems which impact the organization. · Capacity to develop and implement plans that simultaneously address critical success factors and performance gaps. · Capacity to clearly articulate and model the “desired” shared; values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, attitudes and behaviors that are central to the success of the organization.

Dean Plan Rationale: (Why are you developing this plan?)
Through the use of a collaborative planning process you are striving:
 * To maximize the probability of successful delivery of the organizations four goals, (to all stakeholders), by aligning the internal systems (i.e. those identified as either critical success factors or performance gaps) and further enhancing universal understanding of the interdependency of the systems.
 * To engender a common understanding and commitment to the values, beliefs, underlying assumptions, attitudes and behaviors, central to the success of the organization.

Recognition Rationale (Why provide recognition?)
Acknowledgement is a powerful way to promote desired outcomes and positive behaviors. A well designed recognition system shapes and reinforces behaviors or outcomes, valued by the community resulting in an increase in each individual’s: Being acknowledged and affirmed leads to secure attachments and to a gain in confidence and inner strength. _
 * Motivation - when individuals feel their efforts are appreciated, they will strive to perform at a higher level.
 * Feelings of being valued - most individuals experience greater satisfaction from knowing someone values their contributions.
 * Self-esteem – increases feelings of competence and willingness to take positive risks.
 * Sense of belonging - connectedness increases the desire to be an active contributor to the community.
 * Resiliency - tasks feel more manageable at high stress times – allowing individuals to "rise to the challenge" when needed as opposed to feeling out of control or swamped.

Innovation Rationale (Why is innovation important?) – Innovators anticipate change
Innovation is more than a creative idea or original insight. Innovations are disruptive growth opportunities that when “identified and operationalized” lead to things being done differently, resulting in significant organizational improvements which result in a competitive advantage. These improvements may turn relative or perceived weaknesses into strengths. · Innovation responds to current needs while simultaneously anticipating future needs. · An **improvement is doing things better **, a **disruptive growth opportunity implies doing things differently **. · Innovation takes advantage of opportunities and helps mitigate threats. Goals 1) Create a program that facilitates the development of expert instructors. 2) Integrate “Reading Horizons” into the classroom. _

__Expert Instructors Rationale (Why are expert instructors important?)__
__ An instructional expert has and continues to apply sustained mental focus toward on-going mastery of an area of knowledge and has, in doing so, achieved an exceptional level of understanding. The outcome of sustained mental focus is the integration and __**application** __of factual knowledge, conceptual understanding, and deep intuition **­**__**to your instructional practice** __Goals__ __ 1) Identify the resources necessary for faculty to acquire and become fluent with a common knowledge base. __
 * __Experts feel entirely comfortable with the subject, and can hold their own in discussions with other experts.__
 * __Experts are self confident - they aren't afraid to correct themselves or admit when they are wrong.__
 * __Experts acknowledge they don't know or don't understand something, and is happy to be enlightened.__
 * __Someone with a degree or multiple degrees may be an expert, but this is not guaranteed. The strict equation of degrees with expertise is called credentialism.__

Social Emotional Wellness Rationale (Why is this part of our responsibility?)
Successful personal, social and emotional development is the foundation for success in all areas of learning. Feeling special and cared about is vital to physical, social and emotional health and well-being. When individuals experience respect, care and emotional support it helps them validate their emotions and increases trust and positive self-image. Positive relationships lead to growth in self-assurance, promoting a sense of belonging, which allow individuals to explore learning from a secure inner base. Students need · Adults to be positive role models · Opportunities for successful and meaningful interactions · Opportunities to successfully express their feelings Social -emotional wellness is not the absence of emotions like sadness, anger, or confusion. All students will feel these emotions from time to time. _

__Rationale for Professionalism (Why is professionalism important?)__
__ Professionalism embraces a set of attitudes, skills and behaviours, attributes and values which society expects. The underlying assumption that necessitates professionalism in teaching is the understanding that practicing teaching is a moral endeavour, requiring a rigorous application of behavioural and ethical standards in combination with specific training and the ability to care for students with compassion and empathy. Professionalism includes 3 elements: __ **The Core Values of Professionalism include:** __** Honesty and Integrity ** _
 * 1) __Knowledge and skill being used in the service of others__
 * 2) __The expectation that professionals will hold themselves and their colleagues to the highest standards of ethical and professional behaviour in all their actions and activities__
 * 3) __A compact of trust between stakeholders__
 * Altruism **
 * Respect **
 * Responsibility and Mutual Accountability **
 * Compassion and Empathy **
 * Dedication and Continuous Self-improvement ** __

__Rationale for Student Centric (Why is this important?)__
__ Each student is a unique learner and thus maximizes his or her learning when instruction is matched to the way she or he learns best. Student centric instruction sets the stage for students to learn in ways that match their overall skills, aptitudes, interest in learning, self-confidence and self-esteem. Our belief is that Individualization is essential if: __

___
 * __Each student is going to maximize their potential__
 * __Each student is to be equipped with the skills and competencies to maximize their contributions to our society__
 * __The volume, rate and complexity of tasks is to be appropriate__
 * __Students are to be treated fairly__

Safe Secure Predictable School Environment (Why is this essential for learning?)
Each student’s “basic needs” act as important determinants of behavior. Students will be more psychologically available to learn if the environment is predictable and they feel safe, cared for, connected, and have positive self-esteem.

Consistency in a safe, secure, predictable environment results from In a safe, secure, predictable environment ‘ Innovation ’ is possible.
 * Expert Instruction
 * Professionalism
 * Recognition
 * Social Emotional Wellness
 * Individualization