scholarly journals Current Challenges in School Leadership in Estonia and Finland: A Multiple-Case Study among Exemplary Principals

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Kirsi Tirri ◽  
Eve Eisenschmidt ◽  
Katrin Poom-Valickis ◽  
Elina Kuusisto
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Growth Mindset ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Multiple Case

The purpose of this study was to find out what current challenges successful principals in Estonia and Finland identify in developing their schools. The strategies used in dealing with these challenges were also analyzed within the framework of “growth-mindset pedagogy” as an educational approach to school leadership. The principals were interviewed, and the resulting data were analyzed by means of both inductive and deductive content analysis. The similarities among and differences between principals from Estonia and Finland were compared and discussed in the context of high-achievement-oriented but culturally different educational systems. According to the results, the challenges are similar in both countries, relating to the principals’ professional development, as well as developments in the curriculum and the learning community. The Estonian principals identified more challenges related to developments in the learning community than their Finnish peers, although in both countries they tended to use strategies related to growth-mindset pedagogy in dealing with them. Preparation and development programs for principals should pay more attention to their mindset and their views on teaching and learning, which may have a strong impact on the whole school community.

scholarly journals THE EFFECT OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS ON TEACHER PERFORMANCE ( A Case Study at SMP Negeri Kota Singkawang)

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-56
Author(s):  
M.Thaiyibi
Keyword(s):  
Educational Leadership ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Teacher Performance ◽  
School Development ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Teachers And Students

This survey study aims to understand effective secondary school leadership towards improving teacher performance in the teaching and learning process. There is no doubt that effective school principals are able to promote faster education improvement. On the other hand, good school leadership has a strong impact on school development and student learning outcomes. To understand how the effectiveness of school leadership on teacher performance, survey research has been successfully carried out in Singkawang City Middle School. The results showed that a very successful educational leadership can influence the whole school community especially teachers and students to achieve higher performance in school organizations. This research proves that the principal's strong leadership can not only influence teachers in teaching but also students in learning as a whole. Therefore, similar research can continue to be carried out so that effective educational leadership can influence the people he dreams of with a high commitment to improve work performance such as teachers, school development and surrounding resident

Educational restoration: a foundational model inspired by ecological restoration

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1198-1218
Author(s):  
Lisa A.W. Kensler ◽  
Cynthia L. Uline
Keyword(s):  
School Leadership ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Educational Practice ◽  
Living Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Conceptual Foundation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Systems Model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to articulate, and advocate for, a deep shift in how the authors conceptualize and enact school leadership and reform. The authors challenge fundamental conceptions regarding educational systems and call for a dramatic shift from the factory model to a living systems model of schooling. The authors call is not a metaphorical call. The authors propose embracing assumptions grounded in the basic human nature as living systems. Green school leaders, practicing whole school sustainability, provide emerging examples of educational restoration. Design/methodology/approach School reform models have implicitly and even explicitly embraced industrialized assumptions about students and learning. Shifting from the factory model of education to a living systems model of whole school sustainability requires transformational strategies more associated with nature and life than machines. Ecological restoration provides the basis for the model of educational restoration. Findings Educational restoration, as proposed here, makes nature a central player in the conversations about ecologies of learning, both to improve the quality of learning for students and to better align educational practice with social, economic and environmental needs of the time. Educational leaders at all levels of the educational system have critical roles to play in deconstructing factory model schooling and reform. The proposed framework for educational restoration raises new questions and makes these opportunities visible. Discussion of this framework begins with ecological circumstances and then addresses, values, commitment and judgments. Practical implications Educational restoration will affect every aspect of teaching, learning and leading. It will demand new approaches to leadership preparation. This new landscape of educational practice is wide open for innovative approaches to research, preparation and practice across the field of educational leadership. Originality/value The model of educational restoration provides a conceptual foundation for future research and leadership practice.

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: THE FREQUENCY AND VARIETY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ONLINE INSTRUCTORS

2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Heather Herman
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Faculty Development ◽  
Online Instruction ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Learning Development ◽  
Printed Materials

Online education is no longer a peripheral phenomenon in higher education: over one-third of faculty have taught or developed an online course. As institutions of higher education expand their online education offerings, administrators need to recognize that supporting faculty through the use of incentives and through effective faculty development programs for online instruction is important to the improvement of the quality of educational programs. This quantitative study used an online survey to investigate the types and frequency of faculty development programs for online instruction at institutions with an established teaching and learning development unit (TLDU). The average TLDU offered about fifteen different types of faculty development programs, the most common being websites, technical services, printed materials, and consultation with instructional design experts.

scholarly journals Conceiving Socioscientific Issues in STEM Lessons from Science Education Research and Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 238
Author(s):  
Silvia Alcaraz-Dominguez ◽  
Mario Barajas
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Socioscientific Issues ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Inquiry Based Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning Strategies ◽  
Assessment Of Student Learning ◽  
Method Of Assessment

This paper aims to elicit the different conceptions of Socioscientific Issues (SSI) in formal, non-tertiary STEM lessons. An examination of recent publications in the field of science education was conducted to elicit the most common conceptions of SSI as per the components of STEM lessons, namely: purpose, contents, teaching and learning strategies and assessment. As for purpose, the conceptions elicited have been organized in terms of contributing to citizenship goals, or to scientific competence. As for contents, it was found that SSI are related both to knowledge of science and knowledge about science and linked to skills such as argumentation. In terms of teaching and learning strategies, SSI are mainly associated with Inquiry-Based Learning; and with student engagement techniques such as dilemmas and group discussions. Lastly, performance assessment of student learning processes and results is typical when SSI are conceived as a method of assessment of STEM lessons. This conception sets up strong foundations for the design and evaluation of innovative SSI teaching. It shall also help to open new lines of research establishing connections among applications of SSI in different subjects, cultural contexts and educational systems.

Inclusion of L2 (Basque) learners in Dialogic Literary Gatherings in a linguistically diverse context

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882199414
Author(s):  
Maite Santiago-Garabieta ◽  
Rocío García-Carrión ◽  
Harkaitz Zubiri-Esnaola ◽  
Garazi López de Aguileta
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Linguistically Diverse ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
Language Of Instruction ◽  
Dialogic Teaching ◽  
Collaborative Interactions ◽  
Diverse Context

The increasing linguistic diversity of the students in schools poses a major challenge for inclusive educational systems in which everyone can learn the language of instruction effectively and, likewise, can have access to contents, being language the necessary tool to the latter end. Research suggests that there is a robust connection between interaction and language acquisition. Therefore, there is a need to identify the forms of interaction that are most effective for that purpose. In this sense, a greater emphasis on dialogic teaching and learning that increases quality interactions among students may facilitate the learning process. The present study analyses the implementation of a dialogue-based educational action called Dialogic Literary Gatherings (DLG) to promote teaching and learning Basque, a minority language, in a linguistically diverse context. Our research is an exploratory case study: 9 lessons were video-recorded and 2 interviews were conducted with a group of students and their teacher respectively. Results suggest that the DLG creates affordances for encouraging participation in collaborative interactions in the second language, promoting the inclusion of L2 learners, and fostering literature competence as well as a taste for the universal literature. We discuss the implications of these findings for second language learning.

An exploration of the factors that contribute to learning satisfaction of first-year anatomy and physiology students

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 158-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saramarie Eagleton
Keyword(s):  
Learning Community ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Community Support ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Effectiveness ◽  
Anatomy And Physiology ◽  
Learning Satisfaction ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Teaching Anatomy ◽  
Physiology Students

Lecturers have reverted to using a “blended” approach when teaching anatomy and physiology. Student responses as to how this contributes to their learning satisfaction were investigated using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of closed- and open-ended questions that were based on three determinants of learning satisfaction: perceived course learnability, learning community support, and perceived learning effectiveness. Regarding course learnability, students responded positively on questions regarding the relevance of the subject for their future careers. However, students identified a number of distractions that prevented them from paying full attention to their studies. As far as learning community support was concerned, respondents indicated that they were more comfortable asking a peer for support if they were unsure of concepts than approaching the lecturing staff. Most of the students study in their second language, and this was identified as a stumbling block for success. There was a difference in opinion among students regarding the use of technology for teaching and learning of anatomy and physiology. From students' perceptions regarding learning effectiveness, it became clear that students' expectations of anatomy and physiology were unrealistic; they did not expect the module to be so comprehensive. Many of the students were also “grade oriented” rather than “learning oriented” as they indicated that they were more concerned about results than “owning” the content of the module. Asking students to evaluate aspects of the teaching and learning process have provided valuable information to improve future offerings of anatomy and physiology.

Assistant principal leadership development: a narrative capture study

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Petrides ◽  
Cynthia Jimes ◽  
Anastasia Karaglani
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Development ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Principal Leadership ◽  
Assistant Principals ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Assistant Principal ◽  
Leadership Roles ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leadership Challenges ◽  
Teacher Professional

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the knowledge base on the ways in which assistant principals view their roles, and on the potential challenges involved in a distributed leadership model. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed a narrative capture method, in which assistant principals from two large urban school districts were asked to relate and self-interpret two leadership stories through a web-based narrative capture form. A total of 90 stories were collected from 45 assistant principals. Participants rated their stories based on a set of leadership indicators (including method of decision making and type of teacher interaction present in the story, among others); the results were analyzed statistically. Findings – Overall, participants tended to view their roles in terms of instructionally focussed leadership. However, leadership challenges emerged in several areas of leadership practice, including operational management and teacher professional development (PD). Demographic factors were found to influence leadership perceptions and practices. Research limitations/implications – This study begins to fill the empirical gap on assistant principal leadership roles, practices, and perceptions. Further research, using other methods (e.g. observation), is needed to collect evidence of in situ leadership practices of assistant principals, and how those practices impact and relate to school objectives for teaching and learning. Practical implications – The study sheds light on the leadership development needs of assistant principals and on the importance of ongoing, tailored PD, based on factors including where leaders are in their careers and how they envision their roles. Originality/value – This paper contributes to nascent scholarship regarding assistant principal school leadership.

A Longitudinal Perspective of Early Career Music Teachers: Contexts, Interactions, and Possible Selves

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Dabback
Keyword(s):  
Student Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Music Teachers ◽  
Possible Selves ◽  
Music Educators ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Possible Selves Theory

The purpose of this multiple case study was to follow the development of three music educators during their student teaching semesters and into the first years of their careers. Possible selves theory provided a framework for exploring the links between cognition, expectations, and motivation. Interviewees negotiated their social and physical contexts, which in turn shaped their self-images and conceptions of teaching and learning. Identities were constructed through personal experiences and formal study with significant others, including influential teachers, cooperating teachers, and colleagues. In these respects, classrooms served as the laboratories in which teachers learned how to build crucial relationships with their students, tested and reshaped emerging identities, and based actions and evaluation on their possible selves.

scholarly journals Three-dimensional pedagogy: A new professionalism in educational contexts

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy Andrews ◽  
Lindy Abawi
Keyword(s):  
School Improvement ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
New Teacher ◽  
Teacher Professionalism ◽  
High Yield ◽  
Pedagogical Beliefs ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Student Cohorts ◽  
The Look

This article provides evidence of a new teacher professionalism whereby teachers, acting as collaborative individuals working together, are the key to effectively meeting the needs of diverse student cohorts. Drawing on data from Australian school contexts and the work of researchers from the Leadership Research International team, new professional images of teachers’ work have emerged as the result of a whole-school improvement process – the Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievements in Schools (IDEAS) process. Such processes facilitate collective engagement enabling teachers to refine and share individual strengths, as well as build capacity in areas of challenge. This reimaging of teachers is related to the concept of three-dimensional pedagogy where teachers weave personal pedagogical beliefs and authoritative pedagogical frameworks with schoolwide pedagogical principles which are known as the school’s schoolwide pedagogy (SWP). A SWP, clearly aligned with the school’s vision for a preferred future, is derived by staff as a sign of their collective commitment to contextualized, high-yield teaching and learning practices. The focus is on meeting the needs of ‘our students’ in ‘our context’ while being sensitive to systemic direction. Teachers lead the process of developing SWP, working with it, refining it and embedding principles into shared pedagogical action. What emerges is the concept of micro-pedagogical deepening, a process of critiquing and defining contextualised practice. Such practices, led by the new teacher professional, are not only changing the professional image of teachers but also the look, feel and sound of educational workplaces.

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