"Choose Your Own Adventure": Web-Based Case Studies of Inclusive Education as a Form of Professional Learning for School Principals

Steve Sider; Kimberly Maich; Jacqueline Specht; Carolyn Treadgold; Hillary Winger

doi:10.1177/19427751211046978

"Choose Your Own Adventure": Web-Based Case Studies of Inclusive Education as a Form of Professional Learning for School Principals

J Res Leadersh Educ. 2023 Mar;18(1):132-154. doi: 10.1177/19427751211046978. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Authors

Steve Sider¹, Kimberly Maich², Jacqueline Specht³, Carolyn Treadgold⁴, Hillary Winger⁵

Affiliations

¹ Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
² Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada.
³ University of Western Ontario Faculty of Education, London, Canada.
⁴ Ontario Principals' Council, Whitby, Canada.
⁵ Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty of Education, Waterloo, ON, Canada.

Abstract

We examine the process of developing web-based case studies, a novel form of professional learning for principals, specifically related to inclusive school leadership. Based on the input from 39 principals, 5 case studies were developed with branching scenarios that provided multiple options for decision-making. These "choose your own adventure" case studies were used in a special education for school administrators course with 109 participants in Ontario, Canada. We consider the authenticity of the cases, the importance of incorporating multiple perspectives, and issues related to function, form, and choice. We incorporate five lessons for developing web-based case studies.

Keywords: case study approach; leadership and learning; principal preparation; professional development; special education.