engleski

Challenges of introducing action research as a form of teacher professional development in Croatia

Positive orientation to education, i.e. nurturing students’ strongest qualities, potentials and talents, is the very essence of learning. This approach is based on freedom, love, spontaneity and creativity in education as preconditions for the actualization of one’s positive, productive capabilities. Since an individual constructs knowledge and his world in interaction with others in his environment, it is also very important for students to develop an orientation towards someone else’s qualities and potentials. One of the possible ways of researching and implementing this approach to teaching practice is through action research, because it allows us to question our own educational practice, creating our own identity and understanding the identities of others. The biggest challenges in this endeavour within teacher education context were related to different perspectives on education that were the result of different personalities, experiences and especially the values individuals stand for. In this situation, when it is necessary to cooperate with individuals who stand for different values, it is important to be non-judgmental and open to other people’s points of view. This experience helped me to understand my own identity and creative potential as a university teacher. Also, it helped me to understand that students’ capacity for orientation towards someone else’s positive, productive possibilities and creative potential is also determined or influenced by pre-existing group relationships. Lastly, it helped everyone included in this research to develop their critical reflection further, as one of the key competencies of future teachers.

action research, positive orientation to education, critical friendship

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