| Abstract [eng] |
The challenges of the 21st century – globalisation, plenty of information, and fast technological development – are becoming important for every member of society, because the world is changing. Teachers, as well as schools, are faced with new challenges and requirements for continuous improvement, learning and adaptation to change. The expression of reflective leadership in the general education school as a learning institution is one of the most meaningful ways to improve the quality of the school education by changing and improving all participants in the educational process. The school becomes perfect when its headmaster, teachers and pupils ponder their experience and actions, analize the activity and events of the organization, evaluate their achievements, learn from their own and others' experiences, reasonably planning future actions as well. The leaders who follow the principles of the reflective leadership directly related to reflective practice and reflective teaching ensure successful process also the leaders lead all school community to achieve high results promoting reflection processes not only at personal-individual level, but also at group and school level. The expression of reflective leadership is a complex, which includes thinking, the analysis of experience, the practice of teaching and learning in professional activities, it promotes phenomena which are related to the teacher's professional, personal and school development. The goal of the master's degree final work is to reveal the expression of reflective leadership in the general education school as a learning organization at individual, group and organization level. The main tasks to achieve the goal: 1) to analyse scientific literature in order to reveal the content and the expression of reflective leadership in a general education school as a learning organisation; 2) to identify patterns of the reflective leadership at different stages of teacher‘s work (individual level); 3) to find out the patterns in the expression of reflective leadership in school at the group/class (team) level; 4) evaluate patterns in the expression of reflective leadership at school level as a learning organisation. The methodology of the research is based on the concept of the school as a learning organization, the theories of constructivism and transformational leadership. Quantitative access was chosen for the empirical study of the master's degree work using the survey method. The results of the study were analyzed on the basis of data of 162 teachers of general education schools in Pasvalys district. The results show the expression of reflective leadership in a general education school as a learning organisation affects at all individual, group/class and organisational levels. The individual expression of reflective leadership is revealed through the understanding of learning from oneself experience and others, using the reflection and self-reflection abilities. Teachers use their previous experiences and knowledge, constantly reflecting and improving their personal work and work in the classroom with pupils. They collaborate with other colleagues and encourage each other to share experiences, teachers try to reflect together and to accept decisions on how to improve the results of their work. Teachers improve their work using the results of good experience of their colleagues. Group reflection gives the result which is the process of changing the belief of the group, its values and attitudes. The expression of reflective leadership at school level occurs in work planning and it also promotes reflective learning processes among all members of school community. The strategy and objectives developed by the school are directed towards improving the school's education process through the analysis of the experience. Teachers learn from their experience and share leadership to achieve the best results. |
