This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Codrington, S. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Applying the Concept of ‘Best Practice’ to International Schools

Li Po Chun United World College, Hong Kong, scodrington{at}lpcuwc.edu.hk

This article explores the appropriateness and implications of adopting and adapting the business-oriented concept of ‘best practice’ in international schools. Because businesses and international schools tend to have contrasting goals and time-frames within which they seek to achieve their objectives, it is expected that ‘best practice’ in schools will differ from ‘best practice’ in the corporate world. A model of ‘best practice’ that suits the needs of international schools should also acknowledge the shift in approaches to learning from behaviourism through cognitivism to constructivism. It is argued that best practice in international schools should focus on achieving the goals of the mission statement in a manner that adapts flexibly to meet the individual needs of each student, includes ongoing professional development and feedback for teachers, and emphasizes a clear separation of governance and management.

Key Words: behaviourism • best practice • constructivist learning • international school • school governance • strategic planning • thinking skills

Journal of Research in International Education, Vol. 3, No. 2, 173-188 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/1475240904044386


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Fryer Stakeholder experiences of a dual-language international school: A qualitative case study of a private international school in Hong Kong Journal of Research in International Education, August 1, 2009; 8(2): 210 - 222. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. MacDonald Balancing priorities and measuring success: A triple bottom line framework for international school leaders Journal of Research in International Education, April 1, 2009; 8(1): 81 - 98. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. MacDonald A cure for insomnia: Dispelling four myths of international school finance Journal of Research in International Education, April 1, 2008; 7(1): 37 - 54. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Macdonald Daring to be different: How differentiation strategies help determine the educational success and fiscal health of international schools Journal of Research in International Education, August 1, 2007; 6(2): 151 - 169. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. MacDonald The international school industry: Examining international schools through an economic lens Journal of Research in International Education, August 1, 2006; 5(2): 191 - 213. [Abstract] [PDF]