ERIC Number: EJ1449913
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-3831
EISSN: EISSN-1470-1170
From Autonomous Actors to Collaborative Professionals: Perceptions of Co-Teaching in a Finnish School Community
Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, v68 n7 p1488-1502 2024
This study examined the factors shaping co-teaching within a Finnish primary school's community. The qualitative study was conducted by teacher and principal interviews and teacher surveys. Thematic content analysis revealed five factors establishing the co-teaching practices: providing collegial support, team building, continuous professional development, the intrinsic value of co-teaching, and the structure of the work community. These factors aggregated into two larger arenas: teachers' sphere of influence and systemic elements -arena, which was experienced to be beyond individual teacher influence. These factors illustrate the complexity of the work community with co-teaching and how they can both complicate and contribute to an educator's daily work. In addition, individual, community and resource-specific challenges regarding co-teaching emerged. Finally, we identified three educator profiles on the involvement in decision-making when developing co-teaching practises. We distinguished pioneers, travelling companions and critical observers as three diverging roles that educators have adopted in influencing the decision-making.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Principals, Administrator Attitudes, Team Teaching, Faculty Development, Work Environment, Educational Resources, Teaching Methods, Decision Making, Teacher Role, Barriers, Collegiality, Teacher Surveys, Administrator Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A