Diffusing Innovative Pedagogies in Schools in Singapore: Case Studies on School Leaders’ Diffusion Approaches and Their Rationalisations

Abstract

The scaling and diffusion of innovations has been widely studied with regard to the characteristics of innovations and factors influencing teachers' decision-making for adoption. However, little has been explored on why school leaders take a top-down or a bottom-up approach to diffusion. Through multiple case studies in Singapore, this paper identifies metaphors and repertoires that school leaders use to elaborate and rationalise their diffusion approaches. It establishes an empirical understanding of how school leaders in Singapore diffuse innovations and why they often take a top-down approach to diffusion. Findings suggest a need to help school leaders understand the diffusion of innovations as a process and the need to integrate top-down and bottom-up approaches.