Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership Infographics: A Beautiful Distraction?
I take a critical look at the growing popularity of infographics and one-pagers in education. While I acknowledge their aesthetic appeal and potential as conversation starters, as exemplified by the brilliant work of Jamie Clark and the WalkThrus guides, I argue that an overreliance on these simplified visual guides may be holding educators back from deeper understanding and effective implementation.
I believe we need to think critically about how we use these tools to ensure they don't become a substitute for nuanced discussions and context-specific adaptations.
Key takeaways
- The Nuance Problem: Infographics, by nature, can't capture the full complexity and nuance of educational ideas and practices, potentially leading to oversimplification and misunderstanding.
- Context Matters: Educators must adapt and contextualize infographics to their unique school settings, considering cultural, social, and institutional factors that can't be represented in a one-size-fits-all visual.
- The Implementation Gap: Infographics alone can't bridge the gap between theory and practice. Effective professional development requires a range of mechanisms beyond just attractive visuals.
- Thinking Critically: To avoid "lethal mutations" of educational ideas, educators must approach infographics with a critical eye, using them as departure points for deeper discussion and understanding rather than as comprehensive solutions.
Throughout the episode, I provide practical tips for using infographics effectively in professional development, such as fostering critical discussions, adapting to school context, planning for implementation challenges, and integrating reflective practice.
Whether you're a fan of infographics or sceptical of their value, this episode will challenge you to rethink the role of simplified visual guides in education and offer strategies for going beyond the surface level to achieve meaningful change in your school.
This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association. Learn more here.
Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on X (@leaningshane), and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.
About the host
As an Organisational Coach for international schools, Shane Leaning help leaders drive meaningful change from the inside out. Through tailored coaching and strategic models, he helps schools transform not just leadership skills but their entire organisation. Whether it's through The International School Leadership Academy, the Global Ed Leaders Podcast, or one-on-one coaching, Shane provide the tools and community you need to make a sustainable impact in your school.
Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive
Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.
You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com
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