| The purpose of this study was to explore the development of a learning organization through the application of the learning organization theoretical framework (Senge, 1990) in a Native American educational setting. This study also sought to determine whether the five core disciplines of the learning organization would begin to facilitate a school staff's initiatives in the school's improvement efforts.; This research describes the five core disciplines of the learning organization: Personal Mastery, Team Learning, Shared Vision, Mental Models, and Systems Thinking (Senge, 1990). The concept of the learning organization provides a potential framework for aligning an organization toward desired results. In this case study, the inquiry was made to what extent the teachers in an educational setting would apply the disciplines to begin to foster improvements in the school.; Research strategies included qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Qualitative data consisted of pre and post interviews, observations, journal entries, and reflective dialogues. Teacher interviews were inductive in nature, consisted of open-ended questions that explored the five core disciplines of the learning organization, and were tape recorded to obtain written transcripts. The degree to which individuals were more or less self-directed learners was determined by their completion of the Guglielminos' Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (Guglielmino & Guglielmino, 1977).; In analyzing the data from the interviews, a pattern developed through the responses, and linkages could be made with common themes supporting the five core disciplines. Findings included that (a) teachers are self-directed learners, (b) the application of the five core disciplines does foster an initial development toward obtaining the desired results of the school's improvement plan, and (c) through action research, which focused on the five core disciplines, the teachers collaborated and were able to develop the school's mission statement as a team. The findings of this study suggest the value of the learning organization model as the basis for aligning an educational organization. The study's major implication was that by becoming aware of schools as learning organizations, people could bring about positive educational change and successful staff and student learning. |
