Toward a concept of good practices and educational achieves: a research using Delphi methodology.

Author(s):

Belén BallesterosCARMEN OSUNABeatriz Malik

Conference:

ECER 2008

Network:

4. Inclusive Education

Format:

Paper

Session Information

04 SES 01B, Methodological Issues

Paper Session

Time:

2008-09-10

09:15-10:45

Room:

AK2 135

Chair:

Dóra Sigríður Bjarnason

Contribution

This paper is related to a research project about “Cultural diversity and school efectiveness. A repertory of good practices in compulsory education schools” which is being developed by the INTER GROUP in Intercultural Education research. The goal of the project is to contribute to enhance education in schools at the compulsory level, by means of the elaboration and dissemination of an inventory of “good practices” carried out in Spanish schools at the compulsory education level, which have demonstrated their efficacy in the achievement of high performance levels of culturally diverse students. It is assumed that an effective school is that which ensures that all students attain good results and achievements, no matter the expectations regarding initial performance and social, economic and cultural background. In this project, we have considered the possibility of discussion in order to identify and exemplify the meaning of the two central dimmensions of our study. In this sense, we have used the Delphi method to try to clarify what is an educative achievement and how is a good practice at school. Delphi methodology is based on the group; their members don’t work together, they don´t know each other: this methodology has nominal character. The members are choosen as experts in the specific topic of study and their answers are written. This is an iterative proccess, so it is possible the feedback in order to reach a consensus in the final answer.

Method

We have started with an open and general questionnaire where we asked in a explicit way what are good practices at school and which should educational achieves be at compulsory education. We have selected the experts considering all profils related on educational context: headships, professors, politiciens, families and students.

Expected Outcomes

The results show some different opinions about the educational practice and its aims. There is a discourse very institutionalised according to the theoretical and political language. However, we have found some specific and innovative opinions that will be the object of study in the second turn of Dephi process.

References

Aguado,T.; Alvarez, B.;Ballesteros, B.; Gil Jaurena, I.; Hernández, C.; Malik, B.; Mata, P.; Sánchez, M.F.; Téllez, J.A.. (2005). Diversidad cultural y logros de los estudiantes de enseñanza obligatoria. Un modelo explicativo causal. Informe de avance. Madrid : UNED. Aguado, T.; Gil Jaurena, I. y Mata, P. (2005). Educación intercultural. Una propuesta para la transformación de la escuela. Madrid: MEC/Catarata. Banks, James A. (1999). An introduction to multicultural education. 2ª ed. (1ª ed. 1994). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Cohen, E. G. y Lotan, R. A. (1997). Working for equity in heterogeneous classrooms: sociological theory and practice. New York: Teachers College Press. Davidman, Leonard, y Davidman, Patricia T. (2001). Teaching with a multicultural perspective. A practical guide. 3ª ed. New York: Longman. Hopkins, D. (1995). Towards effective school improvement. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 6(3), 265-274. Muñoz-Repiso, M. Y cols. (2000). La mejora de la eficacia escolar: un estudio de casos. Madrid: MECD/CIDE. Nieto, Sonia. (1997). School reform and student achievement: a multicultural perspective, en James A. Banks y Cherry A. McGee Banks (eds.). Multicultural education: issues and perspectives. 3ª ed. (1ª ed. 1989). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Pp. 387-407. Velzen, W. van et al. (1985). Making School Improvement work. Leuven: ACCO.

Author Information

Belén Ballesteros

UNED

Mide I

Madrid

CARMEN OSUNA

UNED

MIDE 1

MADRID

Beatriz Malik

UNED, Spain

Update Modus of this Database

The current conference programme can be browsed in the conference management system (conftool) and, closer to the conference, in the conference app.
This database will be updated with the conference data after ECER.

Search the ECER Programme

Search for keywords and phrases in "Text Search"
Restrict in which part of the abstracts to search in "Where to search"
Search for authors and in the respective field.
For planning your conference attendance, please use the conference app, which will be issued some weeks before the conference and the conference agenda provided in conftool.
If you are a session chair, best look up your chairing duties in the conference system (Conftool) or the app.