SEARCHING FOR CONSTANT INNOVATION IN TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULA: THE CASE OF ESTONIA
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2014, Vol 62, Issue 12
Abstract
The study addresses the tensions between the aims and objectives of global, national and local curricula and suggests solutions for mitigating these conflicts using the experience of Estonia as an example. In spite of the success of recent reforms and the good results of students in international comparisons, there are serious defciencies: an Estonian teacher’s readiness to use professional freedom is modest, personal effciency, job satisfaction, and students’ motivation to learn is low: there are few outstanding performers. The aim of the study is to propose and analyse a teacher education curriculum innovation model for overcoming the problem. Adaptive model for curriculum design is presented where the predominant outcomeoriented approach was replaced and focus on teaching and learning processes was highlighted, the logic of design in curriculum development was implemented. A model for the practice component of teacher education, based on Wenger`s situated learning model and Engeström’s expansive learning model, is in the focus. It is found that implementing this approach could encourage a development of standards and transform the attitudes of both students and teachers towards increased creativity and professional development. The implementation of the described curriculum innovation model enhances new type of learning and can generate new modules in teacher education curricula.
Authors and Affiliations
Viive-Riina Ruus, Inge Timoštšuk
MUSEUM EDUCATION AS A TOOL FOR PROMOTING SCHOOL-WIDE COMMUNITY AND FAMILY COOPERATION IN ELEMENTARY: A PRELIMINARY REPORT
Building relationships among students and their wider community may encourage participation and impact student learning. This study describes the implementation of a three-month model project in Museum Education in a p...
ConstruCtiVist learning: desCription, explanation, prediCtion in a Chemistry Classroom
Scientifc description, explanation, prediction as cognitive procedures are inherent to science and deal with understanding the phenomena in the world around us. This explains the fact many studies exist on the nature o...
THE ROLE OF CINEMA INTO SCIENCE EDUCATION
Reforming science education – from educating educators, to developing standards, to improving access for all – is a worldwide challenge that is essential if overall improvements are to be made. In science education, it...
BRIDGING THE CONTENT KNOWLEDGE GAP OF TEACHERS: AN AGENDA TO IMPROVE BUSINESS STUDIES TEACHING IN SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTRYSIDE SCHOOLS
‘Transformation’ became the buzz word in South Africa in 1994. Lots of changes have taken place in all aspects of the new South Africa as a result of democratization and education is not an exception to this reality. Th...
PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF MEASUREMENT AND ASSESSMENT: A CASE OF SWAZILAND
The study purposed to fnd primary school teachers’ knowledge and skills of measurement and assessment and to elicit their views of teacher role of measurement and assessment. Within a descriptive survey, a questionnair...