Machine Learning in Action

Machine Learning in Action Review

The ability to take raw data, access it, filter it, process it, visualize it, understand it, and communicate it to others is possibly the most essential business problem for the coming decades. "Machine learning," the process of automating tasks once considered the domain of highly-trained analysts and mathematicians, is the key to efficiently extracting useful information from this sea of raw data.

Machine Learning in Action is a unique book that blends the foundational theories of machine learning with the practical realities of building tools for everyday data analysis. In it, the author uses the flexible Python programming language to show how to build programs that implement algorithms for data classification, forecasting, recommendations, and higher-level features like summarization and simplification.

Action Learning for Developing Leaders and Organizations: Principles, Strategies, and Cases

Action Learning for Developing Leaders and Organizations: Principles, Strategies, and Cases Review

Today's rapidly changing and globally competitive business environment mandates that 21st century leaders develop new models and innovative learning processes of organizational leadership. To meet these shifting needs, Action Learning (AL) has emerged as a key training and problem-solving tool for companies as diverse as Nokia, Samsung, Boeing, GE, Motorola, Marriott, General Motors, Deutsche Bank, and British Airways. These and hundreds of other companies around the world now employ AL for strategic planning to develop managers, identify competitive advantages, reduce operating costs, and create high-performing teams.

What exactly is Action Learning? Simply described, it is a dynamic process that involves a small group of people solving real organizational problems, while focusing on how their learning can benefit individuals, groups, and the larger organization. The emphasis on learning is what makes this process strategic rather than tactical in equipping leaders to more effectively respond to change.

This book demonstrates how Action Learning can quickly and effectively be introduced, implemented, and sustained in any type or size of organization using six key components: a diverse group of 4 to 8 members; an urgent task or problem; a question-driven communication process; implementation of action strategies; a commitment to learning; and an AL team coach. It features useful business case examples that illustrate the power of AL in successfully developing leaders, solving problems, building teams, and transforming organizations. Recent developments that include skilled coaching and question-based dialogue make it an even more powerful tool in leadership and organizational development.

Integrating Teaching, Learning, and Action Research: Enhancing Instruction in the K-12 Classroom

Integrating Teaching, Learning, and Action Research: Enhancing Instruction in the K-12 Classroom Review

Helping teachers engage K–12 students as participatory researchers to accomplish highly effective learning outcomes

Integrating Teaching, Learning, and Action Research: Enhancing Instruction in the K–12 Classroom demonstrates how teachers can use action research as an integral component of teaching and learning. The text uses examples and lesson plans to demonstrate how student research processes can be incorporated into classroom lessons that are linked to standards.

Key Features

• Guides teachers through systematic steps of planning, instruction, assessment, and evaluation, taking into account the diverse abilities and characteristics of their students, the complex body of knowledge and skills they must acquire, and the wide array of learning activities that can be engaged in the process
• Demonstrates how teacher action research and student action learning-working in tandem-create a dynamic, engaging learning community that enables students to achieve desired learning outcomes
• Provides clear directions and examples of how to apply action research to core classroom activities: lesson planning, instructional processes, student learning activities, assessment, and evaluation

Connecting Leadership With Learning: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action

Connecting Leadership With Learning: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action Review

What kind of leadership makes learning possible for all students? How can school leaders help teachers increase their knowledge and improve their instructional abilities? What actions should leaders take to ensure that learning occurs? In Connecting Leadership with Learning: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action, Michael A. Copland and Michael S. Knapp give educational leaders a new way to answer these questions and find solutions perfect for their particular school environment.
Copland and Knapp assert that far too many educational leaders are struggling with outdated curricula, demands that don t align with their school or district goals, and professional meetings that are high on complaints but low on solutions. Instead of prescribing a linear or rigid approach, the authors encourage educators to be attentive and tune into their leadership actions by using the Leading for Learning Framework. The framework provides different vantage points to help leaders reflect on their strengths and weaknesses, plan for improvement, and take actions to foster learning for students, teachers and professionals, and school and district leaders. The Leading for Learning Framework will empower leaders to

Establish a focus on equitable learning
Build professional communities
Engage communities and external partnerships
Act strategically and share leadership
Create coherence in their leadership actions

The book includes extended case studies, descriptions of 23 different leadership "pathways," and many examples from schools and districts that show the Leading for Learning Framework in action.
There is no magic formula for great school leadership, but Copland and Knapp conclude that magic can happen when leaders reframe their efforts to focus more clearly on learning.