A Feasibility Study of a Teachers’ Professional Development Program for Character Education in Latvia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15823/p.2021.144.3

Keywords:

character education, feasibility study, program adaptation, program feasibility and integrity, teachers’ professional development

Abstract

This article presents a feasibility study of a schoolteachers’ professional development program on virtue education. Using a questionnaire and focus group discussions, the study explored program feasibility through implementors’ and participants’ perceptions. While participants were more critical than implementors regarding design and delivery, the overall program feasibility was high, and its main strengths and shortfalls were established. Suggestions for its improvement were put forward.

Author Biographies

Svetlana Surikova, University of Latvia

Svetlana Surikova is a doctor of pedagogy, leading researcher at the Scientific Institute of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. Currently her scientific interests are related to the research of professionalization of adult educators, teacher professional development, character and virtue education, etc. She is an expert in social sciences (education sciences) of the Latvian Council of Science as well as a member of the ASEM Education and Research Hub for LLL Network 3 ‘Professionalization of Adult Teachers and Educators in ASEM countries’.

Manuel Joaquín Fernández González, University of Latvia

Manuel Joaquín Fernández González is a doctor of pedagogy, leading researcher at the Scientific Institute of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. In 2020, he has graduated the MA Character Education program at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues of the Department of Education and Social Justice of the University of Birmingham. He is currently investigating character and virtue education at school in Latvia. He is an expert in social sciences (education sciences) of the Latvian Council of Science.

Tamara Pigozne, University of Latvia

Tamara Pigozne is a doctor of pedagogy, leading researcher at the Scientific Institute of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. Currently her scientific interests encompass STEM teaching and learning, character education, e-learning, inclusive education, adult education, stress coping, neuropedagogy and neuropsychology. She acquired research skills related to interdisciplinary research conducting using mix-methods as well as has a good proficiency in using software for qualitative and quantitative data processing and analysis. She obtained research, managerial, administrative and volunteer experience participating in many international and national projects.

Ieva Margeviča-Grinberga, University of Latvia

Ieva Margeviča-Grinberga is a doctor of pedagogy, a leading researcher and associated professor at the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art, University of Latvia. She is an author of international publications about higher education, and about educational programs for decreasing social exclusion. She has been a visiting professor at numerous universities in Georgia, Mexico, Chile, Lithuania, Spain and Brazil, leads research projects, and is one of the founders of RIAICES. She collaborates with partners from Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico on research related to teacher training, social inclusion, intercultural communication and higher education. She has worked with long time ill minority pupils with special needs for over twelve years. She taught Latvian as second language at Centre of Sustained Diseased Children for thirteen years. She has experience in working with juvenile offenders (sexual abused, prostitutes, drugs addicted, alcoholics). Her current interests are related to competency-based higher education.

Dita Nimante, University of Latvia

Dita Nimante is a doctor of pedagogy, a professor and leading researcher at the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. She is a member of the Promotion Board of the University of Latvia in educational sciences, a member of Study Program Council of Educational Sciences, a scientific board member of the Scientific Institute of Pedagogy and an expert of the Latvian Council of Science. She is a director of the Master’s study program ‘Pedagogy’ and a the newly developed Master’s study program ‘Educational Sciences’. During the last three years she has contributed to 8 scientific projects as a leading researcher and expert, 2 projects as a project leader. She has a reviewer’s experience in several Latvian and international proceedings. Her main research interests are related to inclusive education, aspects of classroom management, reduction of violence at school, teacher education for inclusive education.

Ieva Stokenberga, University of Latvia

Ieva Stokenberga is a doctor of psychology and a chair of the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art of the University of Latvia. She holds the position of assistant professor since 2012 and teaches courses in personality psychology, communication skills, and health psychology for undergraduate and graduate students. Her research interests and professional activity are primarily focused on individual resources for health promotion and well-being. She continues to participate in national and international research collaboration on the study of the sense of humor. More recent research topics include occupational health psychology, individual differences in burnout and mental health promotion at school. She is a certified work and organizational psychologist and an experienced trainer on communication skills and social emotional competence. She is a member of the Association of Latvian Young Scientists and the Latvian Society of Psychologists.

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Published

2023-09-18

How to Cite

Surikova, S., Fernández González, M. J. ., Pigozne, T., Margeviča-Grinberga, I., Nimante, D., & Stokenberga, I. (2023). A Feasibility Study of a Teachers’ Professional Development Program for Character Education in Latvia. Pedagogika / Pedagogy, 144(4), 43–68. https://doi.org/10.15823/p.2021.144.3

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Articles