Teachers are homo eruditio and lifelong learners who should not only teach others but also participate in the learning process on a regular basis and immediately apply the lessons learned in their schools. Therefore, it is necessary for schools to dev...
Teachers are homo eruditio and lifelong learners who should not only teach others but also participate in the learning process on a regular basis and immediately apply the lessons learned in their schools. Therefore, it is necessary for schools to develop learning organizations for teachers in order to effectively utilize social knowledge and information and to enhance adaptability of the school. It is important to forge creative learning atmosphere for teachers so that the school maintains the learning system both voluntarily and perpetually.
This study aimed to analyze the general perception of secondaryschool teachers regarding teachers’ learning organizations. The research results were then used to explore and suggest impacts of various elements—changes in learning culture of secondary school teachers, directions for developing teachers’learning organizations in view of enhancing the teaching-learning environment, and elements of teachers’ learning organizations—on effectiveness of school operation.
In order to accomplish the study objectives above, academic high schools in 7 regions in western Gyeonggi-do, including Ansan-si, were selected as research target schools. Taking the number of classes, teachers and principal assistants into consideration, research target teachers were randomly selected in each school. A total of 550 questionnaires were distributed to 15 schools, and 534 were recollected. Analysis summary of the recollected questionnaires is as follows.
First, general perception on the necessity of learning organizations for teachers was found to be higher for private school compared to public schools. There was significantly low level of information sharing between teachers in regards to objectives of learning organizations. Support from the school for promoting learning organizations was generally insufficient. In smaller schools organizational support was particularly lacking, but there was a relatively high recognition of opportunities for self improvement.
Second, in terms of expectation of capability and functionality for learning organizations, smaller schools were seen as more advantaged for effective communications for learning organizations. However, it was found that middle-sized schools were in a better position to establish the necessary elements of information sharing and relationship with external entities.
Third, in terms of operation system for learning organizations, the perception for the operation level element of learning organizations was found to be high for public schools while the perception for necessity of learning organizations was found to be high for private schools. This implies that more works need to be done for higher operation level of learning organizations in private schools.
Fourth, in terms of teachers’ satisfaction of learning organizations, the activity element—as efforts for continued operation of learning organizations—of teachers were found to be high while satisfaction of current learning organizations in schools was relatively low, implying that there is a need for organizational efforts at the school level for promotion of learning organizations. Teachers’ satisfaction of learning organizations was most affected by the external relationship element, with the necessity perception element playing a crucial role and the school size acting as another major variable.
Study results show that, in order to improve effectiveness of learning organizations in terms of satisfaction level, evaluation of learning organizations has to be increased, and in tandem, those factors affecting evaluation of learning organizations should be improved as well. In this study, it is suggested that school organizations should establish on-going relationships with external entities and maintain an efficient internal network as an open structure.