STEM teacher shortage remains a serious problem in secondary education in many European countries, despite many interventions and many research studies over the last decades. The observation that past interventions and research outcomes have not significantly contributed to reduce teacher shortage implies that places to effectively intervene in…

In this study, we explore systems thinking maps as a local literacy practice in a systems thinking professional development institute for PreK-8 teachers. Existing literature underscores the necessity of equipping teachers with a robust understanding of systems thinking; this study addresses a call in the research to find ways to do so. Rooted in…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how urban high school teachers describe their understanding and navigation of workplace pressures that are associated with teacher burnout. Maslach's multidimensional burnout theory served as a framework for two research questions: (1) How do urban high school teachers describe their…

Purpose: The article asserts that systems thinking and its concurrent organizational processes are central organizing structures in schools, yet "hide in plain sight" and are therefore underexplored and underutilized in leadership theorizing. Design/methodology/approach: By exploring the theoretical literature concerning school…

We present this brief reflection on key aspects of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the implications of the worldwide focus on achieving the sustainable development goals as external observers of the evaluation endeavor around the world. We have conducted and participated in evaluations, but it is not our primary field of work and…

The majority of instructional design models have directed focus on instructional design activities such as analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Criticisms regarding instructional design models have suggested that the use of these models provides instructional designers with a limited view of the design environment. This…

The current research study utilized a case study research method to test the theory that the creativity and innovative processes are a complex adaptive system. Through qualitative interviews with renowned creators, the current study categorized the data into eight characteristics of complex adaptive systems: path dependent, systems have a history,…

This paper presents a novel contribution to the discourse surrounding Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT in relation to education and society by using systems theory. We argue that ChatGPT can be understood not just as an 'artificial' intelligence but that it is entangled in the evolution of society and therefore education. ChatGPT is a…

The use of Bayesian Knowledge Tracing (BKT) models in predicting student learning and mastery, especially in mathematics, is a well-established and proven approach in learning analytics. In this work, we report on our analysis examining the generalizability of BKT models across academic years attributed to "detector rot." We compare the…

Everyday we're problem solving--but deep down we know the system is no longer working. Do we just keep trying harder, or do we dare to transform how we "do school?" In "The Drivers: Transforming Learning for Students, Schools, and Systems," renowned authors Michael Fullan and Joanne Quinn build on their previous books and lay…

The predictive validity of performance on cognitive-behavioral measures of executive function (EF) suggests that these measures index children's underlying capacity for self-regulation. In this paper, we apply ecological systems theory to critically evaluate this assertion. We argue that as typically administered, standard measures of EF do not…

Understanding what contributes to improving a system will help us tackle the problems in education systems that usually fail disproportionately in providing quality education for all, especially for the most disadvantage sectors of the population. This paper presents the results of a qualitative systematic literature review aimed at providing a…

Second language development can be viewed as a complex and dynamic process in which learners follow non-linear trajectories and develop their language over a period of time (Larsen-Freeman, 2006). Intrinsic to the view of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST), a system is composed of hierarchical, interdependent subcomponents (learner, learner…

From a complex dynamic systems (CDST) perspective, language is understood as a dynamic system comprised of subsystems that change and develop over time in response to learner-internal and -external factors (Verspoor et al., 2008). Accordingly, language development is seen as a process responsive to the dynamic interaction between the learner and…

Adopting Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is a testament to the revolutionary and evolutionary advancement in theory and empirical practice in the field. CDST is revolutionary for the fact that it warrants systems thinking of SLA phenomena that breaks the chain of dichotomous conceptualization on vital…