Collective Teacher Efficacy

 

Collective Teacher Efficacy is the collective belief of teachers in their ability to positively affect students. With an effect size of d=1.57 Collective Teacher Efficacy is strongly correlated with student achievement. Here is a quick overview of John Hattie’s “new number one” influence.

I was able to attend a virtual training last week, and this term, Collective Teacher Efficacy, came up in the context of its high level of impact.  As I thought more about it, it made me think of our work with Data Roll Throughs last week, and the collaborative conversations with many voices at the table - working together for the success of our students, and celebrating our efforts and the success we are seeing (in a challenging year!).  I started thinking more about what Collective Teacher Efficacy really means - and how can I support it - and the results are below!

With an effect size of 1.57, Hattie considers Collective Teacher Efficacy more than two times more impactful than feedback (0.72) and almost three times bigger than classroom management (0.52).  The message is clear - teachers an achieve more when they believe that they can do so!  A Stanford Study (1977) showed that a group's confidence in its abilities seemed to be associated with greater success, true across several domains.  In communities where neighbors share the belief that they can work together to overcome crime, there is significantly less violence.  In companies where team members hold positive beliefs about the team's capabilities, there is greater creativity and productivity.  And in schools, when educators believe in their combined ability to influece student outcomes, there are significantly higher levels of academic achievement.

Contributing factors to building a strong sense of Collective Teacher Efficacy:

Clear Communication - there is clear and frequent communication of the building goals and expectations for student success; communication also includes a celebration of growth that is happening

School Culture - the school narrative is about high expectations, student growth, what it measn to be a "good learner", and always seeking opportunities for learning for both teacher and student; a shared language focuses on student learning as opposed to instructional compliance; a common belief that we are change agents!

Collaboration - formal, frequent, and productive collaboration that focuses on ways to reach expectations for all students; staff learn from and with one another to build common understandings in dependable, high trust, collaborative environments

High Expectations - expectations for success are high, and teachers and leaders approach their work with an intensiified persistence and strong resolve; the expectation isn't top down, but rather universally shared

High Yield Instructional Strategies - strong and viable curriculum, family communication/involvement, and schoolwide productive ways to address behavior management

Role of Evidence - link between actions and outcomes; instructional improvement efforts result in improved student outcomes validated through learning data strengthens collective efficacy, and this evidence reinforces proactive collective behaviors, feelings, thoughts and motivations;  collective efficacy is a social resource that does not get depleted by its use, but rather it gets renewed!

Success lies in the critical nature of collaboration and the strength of believeing that together, staff and students can accomplish great things.  This is the power of collective efficacy. (The Power of Collective Efficacy, ASCD, 2018)

Something to think about - let me know your thoughts!

Have a great week -

Sue