The fault is in ourselves: looking at ‘failures in implementation’

While implementers are often blamed, reformers themselves are usually responsible for sub‐optimal implementation of educational reform projects. This article shows that the conditions for successful implementation, which are known and accessible, are frequently ignored. The case study concerns a university that is engaged in in‐service teacher education reform in Pakistan, focusing on introducing a ‘learner‐centred’ approach in schools. The research identified severe shortcomings related to implementation of the new approach, mostly relating to a failure by the teacher‐educators to understand and adapt to the actual contexts in which the teachers work. Finally, we suggest reasons why there are so many instances of failed reforms in developing countries.     

Mentoring at Tower Hamlets

This research looks at class management in senior high schools during tutor supervised teaching practice in and around the west Norwegian port city of Stavanger. The main focus is on the management of pupil behaviour, but some attention is also given to the management of pupil learning. It is recognised, of course, that the two overlap.

The study provides tentative evidence ‐no grand claims are made ‐ that Norwegian pre‐certified teachers (this term is explained below) value a class management style which is consultative rather than authoritarian. The preferred model is ‘indulgent persuader’ rather than ‘sergeant major’.

Campus, ministry and chalkface cultures seem to support non‐combative styles of class management, which suggests that the idealism of the tutor and civil servant is not pitted against the pragmatism of the pre‐certified teacher.

When'I' is used in the article, it refers to Paul Stephens, who implemented and conducted the empirical research. Otherwise, the content reflects the joint thoughts of both writers. To avoid literary tedium, the terms ‘pre‐certified teacher’ and ‘teacher’ are sometimes used interchangeably. The context makes it clear whether ‘teacher’ refers to pre‐certified or qualified persons.

Citations from Norwegian sources (except for one published in English) have been translated from Norwegian to English. So too have replies to a questionnaire which was used in the study.     

The Impact of Educational Technology on Training and Development in the Banking Sector

Recent sustainability and training and development reports have shown that banks are increasingly investing in training and development. While most banks are already utilising different forms of e-learning for certain types of training interventions and employee assessments, the focus going forward is to reinvent training within the organisation by making it more efficient, convenient, accessible and fun with educational technology. The aim of the study reported on in this article was to investigate the impact that educational technology has on training and development downtime, accessibility with regard to different learning platforms, return on investment (ROI), organisational culture and learning within the banking environment. A targeted sample of 110 respondents from 30 branches of one of the leading banks in South Africa were surveyed using a stratified random sampling approach. The study revealed that the bank has a strong organisational culture; and educational technology at the bank showed positive results with regard to decreasing downtime and seeing increased ROI.     

Working as partners for classroom reform

This paper discusses a partnership involving teachers and a teacher educator working together to develop teaching and learning practices in Pakistan. The partnership was established in response to the teachers’ need for support in developing their professional practices within the actual contexts and realities of their schools, after they had attended an in-service training course at a university. Providing case studies, the paper analyses the processes and outcomes of this co-learning partnership. The findings suggest that the collaborative process advances the understanding of teachers’ problems, resolves them on the spot, and provides teachers with the confidence and courage to transcend the constraints of their workplaces while developing professionally.