The importance of engaging students with complex societal challenges has led to the adoption of various interdisciplinary teaching and learning practices in both K-12 and higher education. However, interdisciplinary learning is one of the most complex domains of contemporary educational practice, and, despite its significance, remains…

For decades, teacher research, as one form of action research, has been a research methodology that combines theory, practice and improvement of practices in classrooms. However, the lack of teacher autonomy and trust in their professionalism reduces teachers' opportunities to conduct teacher research in their classrooms in many countries. Based…

The article addresses "Bildung" from a Finnish perspective and asks: Are there specific meanings of Bildung that are typical of a certain time and place? The author applies a multi-layered theory of critical positivism, adapting its three-level structure to music education and the concept of "Bildung." First, she discusses…

This article presents a model for teacher education based on an ongoing action research project at a Finnish university. This model draws on the educational theory of Dewey and the pedagogical sensibility of Bakhtin to critically consider the concepts of teacher identity and agency and to highlight the role of community in teacher development. Our…

School effectiveness and school improvement have different origins: School effectiveness is more directed to finding out "what works" in education and "why"; school improvement is practice and policy oriented and intended to change education in the desired direction. However, in their orientation to outcomes, input, processes,…

Music education research today continues in well-worn paths. While it may be productive in quantity, it is not clear the degree to which it informs current music teacher education or has produced advances in teaching practice. Indeed, as some critics of university-based teacher education research have argued (e.g., Boyer 1990; Schwandt 2005), such…

This paper presents the characteristic features of a method for description and evaluation of learning environments which aims at the improvement of the traditional questionnaire-based methods and the integration of the varying points of view of design, support for learning, and evaluation. This method, called Integrated Pedagogical Profile (IPP)…

Discusses the early childhood education programs of Finland as a development of the Finnish welfare state. Claims that these programs are related to family policy and are considered part of the educare programs, which tend to be child centered and tied to family values. Discusses the future of the Finnish educational system. (MOK)

In 1966, Muska Mosston introduced the Spectrum of Teaching Styles. Now, the expanded spectrum has been widely adopted nationally and internationally. A series of eight articles examines various uses of the Spectrum of Teaching Styles by teachers and teacher educators. (SM)