Brian Junker

The purpose of the project is to lay the foundation for the development of hierarchical network models that feature social networks as the mediator between an intervention and an outcome. The social network within each school provides insight into the mechanisms that affect individual outcomes and acts as a powerful mediating variable between the intervention and outcome, especially in large-scale interventions.

Experimental and observational studies in education are sometimes focused not on the effects of changing curriculum, teaching and learning materials, or classroom technique, but rather on changes in the way students, teachers, teaching coaches, and administrators work with one another. In short, many studies focus on changes in student and professional social networks in school systems.

This program trained four fellows and was carried out in collaboration with the RAND Corporation, whose team applies quantitative and methodological training to scientifically rigorous education research.

The purpose of this project is to assess the efficacy of The Learning Walk routine as a strategy for developing school leaders. The Learning Walk routine, developed by the Institute for Learning at the University of Pittsburgh, is a form of "walkthrough" or "learning walk" practice in which school leaders conduct brief classroom visits on a regular basis for the purpose of observing classroom instruction and providing feedback to teachers.