Innovativeness as a managerial process in the context of science teaching: a case study on Bahçeşehir science and technology high school

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2010

Öğrenci: ZEHRA PEKŞEN

Danışman: YAŞAR KONDAKÇI

Özet:

This study aimed to investigate the innovation practices and the factors contributing to innovativeness in BahçeŞehir Science and Technology High School (BSTHS). The study was designed as a case study and different qualitative data collection techniques were used to collect the data. 17 participants of this study were chosen among administrators, science and mathematics teachers and 4 students. The study documented both managerial and academic innovations at the School. Besides, the factors contributing to innovativeness at BSTHS were documented. Research findings show that the BSTHS was successful in establishing a place within the Turkish Education System as a new and original education institution. The BSTHS administration is working on, based on an effective leadership, providing most suitable conditions for education and learning, and they are doing that with a participatory administration approach. Beyond that, they constructed an effective network with the support of the BahçeŞehir University towards the development of the school in line with its targets. According to the research findings, foremost aspects that make the BSTHS innovative and original are a new curriculum, an individual-based education system, application of new technologies in education and learning processes and the establishment of the institution as a self-learning organization. It is argued that different factors (e.g., leadership, participative management, social interaction, knowledge share) are combined with quality inputs (e.g., students, staff, technology, physical infrastructure) have contributed to the creation of a culture of innovation. Hence, it is concluded that extensive physical or financial resources are not enough to accomplish innovativeness. Besides, a culture of innovation needs to be cultivated in order to accomplish innovation.