BEING AN INNOVATIVE TEACHER: Understanding qualities and processes
Characteristics and Conditions for Innovative Teachers: International Perspectives, Taylor & Francis Ltd, ss.53-66, 2023
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2023
- Doi Numarası: 10.4324/9781003216902-4
- Yayınevi: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.53-66
- Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Drawing on the international collaborative research project introduced in this volume, this chapter aims to understand the personal qualities and professional practices of innovative teachers from the perspective of six teacher educators and four teachers, in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Turkey. Following an inquiry into the analytical vignettes generated in the research project, the main data sources for this qualitative study were semi-structured interviews, featuring numerous storied examples that include participants’ detailed descriptions of their understandings of what ‘innovative’ means in the context of teachers’ professional work. Based on an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach, the study identified themes that can be associated with the personal qualities of innovative teachers. The findings indicate that knowledge (both on the nature of innovative processes and on subject matter); skills and abilities (e.g., critical thinking, implementing new ideas or approaches in everyday practice, interpersonal skills, and ICT skills); and personal traits (e.g., openness, curiosity, and flexibility) were distinct, identifiable aspects of innovative teachers’ characteristics. The findings also demonstrate that two main processes lead to the development of innovative teachers: firstly, lived experiences associated with becoming an innovative teacher and secondly, organisational cultures. These findings and implications for teacher professional development are discussed.