INSIDE-OUT VS OUTSIDE-IN APPROACH IN EDUCATION

From my experience, schools are run in one of two ways: some follow an outside-in approach and others take an inside-out approach to decision making. The approach chosen by the school plays a significant role in how successful it can be in creating a cohesive teaching culture and learning environment. Before delving into which one produces better results, it is important to first understand the basic differences between the two.

1. Outside-In: A school that takes an outside-in approach is guided by external factors and therefore makes reactive decisions. This approach often leads to staff anxiety and misalignment as solutions are brought in after the fact, made in haste, and may not serve to support the school’s existing vision (philosophy, teaching methods, etc.).
2. Inside-Out: Alternatively, a school that follows an inside-out approach ensures its philosophy, curriculums and pedagogy are aligned first so it can make informed pre-emptive decisions and react in a well-thought-out and constructive manner.
   

As you can probably guess by these explanations, the inside-out approach is the way to go if your school is interested in creating a unified staff and approach to teaching and learning, as it starts from outlining a clear plan of action for teachers to follow. And with that solid foundation comes the knowledge and understanding of what solutions will work for the school should any unforeseen issues arise.

For those of you at a school taking an inside-out approach, this may not be new for you; on the other hand, for those of you currently working at a school following an outside-in approach, you may be wondering how you can flip the situation so that you are no longer feeling like things are out of your control. The good news is it can easily be done through the development and implementation of an educational framework. To learn more about frameworks and how they can benefit your school, see the following articles.

• What is an Educational Framework?
• A Vision vs. an Educational Framework
• The Tool Successful Companies Use That Schools Need
• Educational Frameworks:
• The Link Between Curriculum Frameworks and Curriculum Mapping
• Designing an Educational Framework
• Key Considerations When Preparing for an Educational Framework

If an educational framework is something you are interested in pursuing, browse our consulting services section or contact us to learn how we can help! 

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