Good Teachers for Tomorrow’’s Schools: Purpose, Values, and Talents in Education

Teachers in schools nowadays are challenged to create inclusive learning environments and safe spaces for encountering diversity in values, cultures and religions, as well as in (dis)ability and talent. Classrooms are micro-cosmoses in which local and global issues are confronted and addressed.

This volume discusses the characteristics of good teachers and the teaching that is needed in today’s and tomorrow’s schools. The focus is on research-based perspectives, with contributions from several internationally renowned scholars on what constitutes good and quality in teaching-studying-learning processes. The chapters focus on good teaching and good teachers from perspectives concerning the fundamental and transversal features of what constitutes a good teacher. More specifically, it is argued that good teachers in tomorrow’s schools will need capabilities that reflect the purpose of education, values in education, and talent in education.

As an outcome, the book provides insights into how, in attending not only to the cognitive but also to the affective, behavioral, moral and spiritual domains, teachers are able to support holistic growth and learning among their students in schools of the 21st century. This volume discusses good teaching for schools in the future from the perspectives of school pedagogy, educational psychology, and neuropsychology.

Elina Kuusisto, DTh (2011) University of Helsinki, works as a University Lecturer (diversity and inclusive education) at the Tampere University, Finland. She has published on teacher ethics, school pedagogy and talent development, particularly on purpose, ethical sensitivity and growth mindset.

Martin Ubani, PhD (2007), University of Helsinki, is a Professor of Religious Education at the University of Eastern Finland. Recently he co-edited the volume Contextualising Dialogue, Secularisation and Pluralism. Religion in Finnish Public Education (Waxmann, 2019).
Petri Nokelainen, PhD (2008), University of Tampere, is a Full Professor of Engineering Pedagogy at the Tampere University, Finland. His research interests cover teaching and learning related to engineering higher education and workplace learning.

Auli Toom, PhD, is a Full Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Centre for University Teaching and Learning at the University of Helsinki, Finland.