Pedagogic shift - in international virtual schools

Understanding Perspectives

Within the theme of Understanding Perspectives eight different elements emerged over the course of the data collection and analysis, including:

• personal motivations
• external drivers
• different cultures
• personality types
• conceptions of time
• conceptions of pedagogy
• values, attitudes and beliefs
• school identities.

The data suggest that time needs to be given to explore perspectives of other teachers particularly in light of the complexity of Virtual International Schools which are made of different schools from different countries. Where possible, this exploration of perspectives should take place face-to-face, rather than online, especially with those teachers who are not confident with online collaboration. The focus of such exploration should be on preconceptions of pedagogy. Moreover teachers should make their students aware that other students from different countries may engage with learning in different ways to themselves.