This chapter discusses dimensions of the master program frameworks associated with Model I and Model II theories-in-use that link Model I and Model II governing values to the actions they inform, as well as implications of those actions for an individual’s learning experiences and effectiveness. This chapter discusses how these Model I value expressions were coded and analyzed as precursors to negative consequences for teacher effectiveness at learning across student–teacher cultural differences. In later sections I discuss how Model II value expressions were analyzed as facilitators of the instructors’ effectiveness at learning across cultural differences.

This chapter introduces action science as a novel approach to reconciling the knowing–doing gap presented in the Introduction. It reviews primary goals of this discipline as established in its seminal literature, as well as central tenets and terms in this discipline that are foundational to the analyses featured throughout the book. It also presents evidence that action science is a suitable approach to reconciling this knowing–doing gap, because its central tenets and terms speak to consistent and recurring themes in the extant educational literature. I explain how the ladder-of-inference framework from this literature is used to investigate K-12 urban teachers’ inferential thinking about cultural differences in the literature review featured across the next six chapters.

This chapter explores the importance of critical reflection on human experience. Critical reflection is not an innate human quality and so must be cultivated. What distinguishes critical reflection from simple reflection is the assessment of one’s assumptions, especially hegemonic assumptions, those deeply ingrained presumptions about existing power relationships in society. Critical reflection is important throughout all aspects of human learning, including the development of expertise and the incidental learning that happens every day, usually below our conscious awareness.