We are excited to invite you all to a last QUINT webinar May 19th (3:00- 4:30 pm Central European Time) linked to the release of our new Open Access book “Investigating Teaching Quality through Video Capture: Equity and Quality in Nordic Classrooms” (edited by Kirsti Klette, Camilla Magnusson and Jóhann Örn Sigurjónsson).
In this last QUINT webinar, we summarize key findings from using a shared observation system (i.e., the PLATO observation protocol) across Nordic lower secondary classrooms to investigate teaching quality and as a tool for teacher learning and improvement (i.e., pre and in-service learning) in the Nordics. The Nordic model is often suggested as an ideal model of education due to its strong tradition with national curriculum and its comprehensive, inclusive and non-tracked structure.
In this seminar, we report on similarities and differences in teaching practices across the Nordic countries, reporting especially from the role of discourses and student engagement, but also the role -or lack of -explicit instruction in Nordic classrooms. Using observation manuals as a framework for teacher learning and improvement is further reported. In the last part we will discuss the implications of our findings, and if we still can talk about a Nordic model in education, and if so, what will be its key components and features.
Programme
Part I (30 minutes): Teaching quality in Nordic Classrooms – what have we seen?
K. Klette: Teaching Quality in Nordic Contexts Using a Shared Observation System
B. Gísladóttir: Discourses and student engagement in Nordic Classrooms
M. Tengberg: Explicit Instruction in Nordic Classrooms - and the lack thereof?
Part II (30 minutes): Observation manuals as a tool for teacher learning – a framework for improvement
I. S Jenset: Observation Tools to support Equity and Responsiveness in Teaching – report form using the PLATO in teacher learning and teacher education in Norway
A.K. Sigurðardóttir: Experience from using observation manuals for professional development in Iceland – report from the PLATO Professional Development project
S.T. Graf: Using the PLATO manual to strengthen Teacher Education in Denmark
Part III (30 minutes) Panel Debate: A Nordic model of education? (QUINT leader K. Klette as a moderator)
Participants: H. Gunnþorsdottir (Iceland), M. Blikstad-Balas (Norway), Gaute Heyerdahl (NordForsk), and Arnbjörg Stefánsdóttir (the Association of Headteachers in Iceland)