Search results for "learning community"
showing 10 items of 78 documents
Collaborative Learning and Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments
2008
A focus on purely individual cognition has set a stage to social construction of knowledge. New learning environments, in many cases supported by computer technology, are often based on collaborating and sharing expertise. As a result research on Computer Supported Collaborative learning (CSCL) environments is a significant and growing field, which actively seeks new methods to resolve the challenges of human learning across diverse levels of interaction in a modern information society. In this chapter we will discuss the concept of collaborative learning and the issues involved in using information and communication technology to support collaborative learning. We begin with the definition…
Professional learning communities and teacher well‐being? A comparative analysis of primary schools in England and Finland
2009
The article is a comparative analysis of the policy and practice of professional learning communities (PLCs) in primary schools in England and Finland. The concept of PLC has become a globally fashionable one and has been explicitly advocated in policy documents in both countries. Drawing from a database of qualitative semi‐structured interviews with primary teachers, four key themes affecting their work and well‐being are identified: the primary school community; collaborative working; continuing professional development and trust and accountability. The realities of PLCs as experienced by primary teachers in each country are contrasted. Similarities in teachers’ responses were found, espe…
The Multifaceted Nature of Agency and Professional Learning
2017
The present volume has aimed to cover a broad range of approaches to agency at work, exploring its relationship with professional learning and development. Thus, the chapters included in this book have discussed the role of agency in learning and development, considering a variety of working life contexts and applying both conceptual and empirical perspectives. This final chapter provides an overview of both the conceptual approaches and the empirical implementations. We see the perspectives as complementary. From the content of the book, we discern the phenomena as falling on two main dimensions, clustering at opposite ends of these dimensions. Thus, the following contrasts are evidenced: …
Introducing teachers to new semiotic tools for writing instruction and writing assessment: consequences for students’ writing proficiency
2017
This article reports consequences for student writing quality based on a long-term professional learning project. Project teachers, representing all school subjects in grades 3–7, were presented with a writing construct, ‘Wheel of Writing’, and norms of expectation for writing proficiency. Participating teachers used the writing construct and norms as a basis for writing instruction and writing assessment. The project was conducted in 24 schools across Norway. 3088 students from 20 project schools participated. Two hundred and thirty three students from 4 schools were used as a comparison group. The investigation showed that students in primary school improved their writing quality signific…
La participación educativa de las familias en una escuela pública valenciana : un estudio cualitativo
2016
Resumen basado en el de la publicación Monográfico con el título Enseñanza superior en Europa : objetivos contemporáneos para instituciones históricas Título, resumen y palabras clave en español e inglés Se analiza desde la reflexión política y crítica la participación activa de las familias, un estudio de campo en una escuela pública del municipio de Carcaixent (Valencia) sobre las diferentes percepciones, reflexiones e impresiones del profesorado, equipo directivo, Asociación de Madres y Padres (AMPA) y familias de dicho centro educativo. Gracias a una serie de entrevistas semi-estructuradas, la transcripción de las mismas y el posterior análisis de contenido, hemos obtenido valiosas conc…
Professional Learning of Teachers in Ethiopia: Challenges and Implications for Reform
2015
Continuous professional development of teachers is of growing interest globally, as it is considered vital to cope effectively with ongoing changes and to improve the quality of education. This qualitative case study explores potential and actual barriers that hinder teachers’ professional development in Ethiopian schools. Data was collected via interviews and focus group discussions from 37 purposively sampled participants. The study reveals three major challenges in teachers’ development: 1) conceptions and conceptual issues related to teaching, professional development and mentoring, 2) management and leadership, and 3) teachers’ work conditions. The need to reconsider educational change…
TEACHER TEAMS AND SCHOOLS BECOME LEADERS TO DISSEMINATE INNOVATIVE PRACTICE
2016
We will introduce a study about teachers taking part in networking for personal development and becoming teacher leaders. In 2011 a multilevel national joint collaboration network of schools with innovative experience was created to foster dissemination of new teaching and learning experiences among teachers. In order to organize learning for teachers, a lesson based collaborative continuous teacher professional learning model was implemented. The research shows that conducting and analyzing lessons has helped participants become more competent professionals and develop skills that are crucial for a good leader. Categories characterizing teacher leaders and lead schools were identified. Fac…
Professional Agency and Creativity in Information Technology Work
2017
The meaning of professional agency in the context of professional learning, as well as in the development of working practices and work organisations, is pivotal. The role of creativity is also crucial for long-term economic growth in the current global environment, which is characterised by rapid changes in both technology and economy. Hence, it is important to study the relationship between professional agency and creativity. In this chapter, we explore professional agency and creativity within two Finnish information technology organisations. This study’s data include interviews with staff members and open-ended questionnaire responses to the question ‘What is creativity in your work?’. …
Development and Preliminary Validation of Social Media as an Educational and Professional Tool Student Perceptions Scale (SMEPT-SPS)
2021
Although social media has an increasing presence both in university and sports settings, in the sports-management education context, no instruments (without being focused on one particular social-media platform, e.g., Facebook and Twitter) have been developed and validated that globally allow the academy to explore the perceptions of sports-management students concerning the educational and professional learning potential that these tools offer. Therefore, this research’s main objective is to develop and perform a preliminary validation of the social media as an educational and professional tool student perceptions scale (SMEPT-SPS). This study sample was composed of 90 Spanish undergraduat…
Mentoring of Newly Qualified Teachers in the Educational Sense
2017
The importance of lifelong learning in teachers’ professional development has become increasingly topical issue globally. In teaching, especially the transition from education to occupation seems to be more challenging compared to other fields. It is evident that under the rapidly changing circumstances teachers’ professional knowledge has to be constantly renewed, and especially in the phase of transition from teacher education to working life, new approaches are needed. peerReviewed