ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book contains a scenario of hypothetical individuals in real-life situations called “What’s the Story”. It includes sections that provide evidence from best practice research essential in creating an effective learning communities as well as sections that provide strategies to ease the process of choosing a best implementation tool. The book serves as a valuable primary or secondary textbook for graduate courses in institutional leadership and policy studies, curriculum and instruction, student affairs, or assessment/evaluation. It contains reflection questions, providing an opportunity for the reader to integrate the information. The directory listed a contact person for each institution, and phone calls were placed to all those persons to conduct or arrange for a telephone interview.
