The Future is Now: Educators’ Vision for Tomorrow
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62695/TLHR6122Keywords:
Malta, Education, Educator, Future, ConsultationAbstract
Education is never far from the news. It is intimately tied to the past, the present and the future. Some say that the past is where education has remained in terms of vision and practice. The more optimistic see education as taking stock of the past to create a present and a future. We are on the threshold of several important national milestones. The National Strategy for Education is up for review in the next two years as well as the National Curriculum. Then there is the collective agreement for educators, which is up for review in 2023. The future of educators hinges on the present and the future. This research, therefore, invited educators to reflect on the future of education and educators themselves. Nine focus groups were conducted, with 45 participants in total. Five key themes emerged from the data as influencing the future of education and educators, namely teaching and learning, leadership and climate, the education system itself, policy, and a changing society. The insights may serve as the basis for reflection and as a springboard for the generation of policy and practice on a national level.
References
Bickmore, K., Hayhoe, R., Manion, C., Mundy, K., & Read, R. (Eds.). (2017). Comparative and international education: Issues for teachers. Canadian Scholars’ Press.
Cook-Sather, A., Bovill, C., & Felten, P. (2014). Engaging students as partners in learning and teaching: A guide for faculty. John Wiley & Sons.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2006). Powerful Teacher Education: Lessons from Exemplary Programs. Jossey-Bass.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2017). Teacher Education around the World: What can we learn from international practice? European Journal of Teacher Education, 40(3), 291–309.
Fullan, M. (2014). The Principal: Three Keys to Maximizing Impact. Jossey-Bass.
Hargreaves, A., & Fullan, M. (2015). Professional capital: Transforming teaching in every school. Teachers College Press.
Hattie, J. (2009). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. Routledge.
Hoy, W. K., & Tarter, C. J. (1997). The road to open and healthy schools: A handbook for change. Corwin Press.
Ingersoll, R. M. (2003). Is There Really a Teacher Shortage? Consortium for Policy Research in Education.
Ingersoll, R. M., & Strong, M. (2011). The Impact of Induction and Mentoring Programs for Beginning Teachers: A Critical Review of the Research. Review of Educational Research, 81(2), 201–233.
Johnson, S. M., & Birkeland, S. E. (2003). Pursuing a “sense of success”: New teachers explain their career decisions. American Educational Research Journal, 40(3), 581–617.
Jaquith, A., Mindich, D., Chung Wei, R., & Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). Teacher professional learning in the United States: Case studies of state policies and local practice. Learning Forward and Stanford University.
Leithwood, K., & Jantzi, D. (2008). Linking leadership to student learning: The contributions of leader efficacy. Educational Administration Quarterly, 44(4), 496–528.
Leithwood, K., Sun, J., & Pollock, K. (Eds.). (2017). How school leaders contribute to student success: The four paths framework. Springer.
Ministry of Education & Employment. (2012). A national curriculum framework for all. Ministry of Education & Employment, Malta.
Mitra, D. (2001). Opening the floodgates: Giving students a voice in school reform. Forum, 43(2), 91–94.
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6.
Sergiovanni, T. (2005). Leadership: What’s in it for Schools? Routledge.
Spillane, J. P. (2012). Distributed leadership. John Wiley & Sons.
Zhao, Y. (2012). World Class Learners: Educating Creative and Entrepreneurial Students. Corwin Press.