System Planning: Teaching Problems and Solutions

This chapter discusses narrative and theoretical evidence from teachers commenting on current educational debates. Practical visions are explored for national education systems, comparing and contrasting the United Kingdom and Finland. The effects on educational communities of political and educational visions and decisions are discussed and some differences between learning purposes and government purposes are noted. Philosophical visions, teaching values and principles for management and curricula planning are considered looking at historical examples. Now we understand neuroplasticity exists; teachers can engage in the process of explaining back to science how this works for learning. Culture and language acquisition research and its importance and influence on learning are explained. There is a discussion of assessment planning and changes in attitudes to intelligence. Relevant and current backup references are included in the references list for topics discussed in this chapter.