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Flexible Learning Environments for a Sustainable Lifelong Learning Process for Teachers in the School Context

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Listed:
  • Francesca Sangiuliano Intra

    (Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39042 Brixen-Bressanone, Italy)

  • Carla Nasti

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vavitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Rita Massaro

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vavitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Armando Junior Perretta

    (IMePS—Institute of Medicine and Systemic Psychology, 80138 Naples, Italy)

  • Amalia Di Girolamo

    (Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TY, UK)

  • Antonella Brighi

    (Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, 39042 Brixen-Bressanone, Italy)

  • Pietro Biroli

    (Department of Economics, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

The flexibility of digital learning environments allows for personalized content delivery tailored to individual teachers’ needs, fostering active and engaged learning. The opportunities offered by these digital technologies can help teachers adopt a lifelong learning attitude, which has become necessary to maintaining high educational standards in line with international guidelines and policy. However, teachers often struggle to leverage these digital technologies and integrate them in their daily activities. To overcome this problem, we developed a custom-built webinar training course focused on enhancing distance learning teaching in a flexible environment. We tested this training course on a group of 197 primary school teachers and examine the relationship between learning goal orientation, motivation, and intention to transfer and how they related to teachers’ personality traits. We found that our webinar training course is easily implementable and valued by teachers, who highlight the importance of allowing the choice between different training levels. The data analysis indicates that intention to transfer is predicted by learning goal orientation and motivation. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of flexible learning environments and tailored training programs that meet teachers’ needs and interests. From a sustainable perspective, such approaches foster teachers’ lifelong learning, enhance their professional development, nurture a growth mindset, and facilitate adaptability to change.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Sangiuliano Intra & Carla Nasti & Rita Massaro & Armando Junior Perretta & Amalia Di Girolamo & Antonella Brighi & Pietro Biroli, 2023. "Flexible Learning Environments for a Sustainable Lifelong Learning Process for Teachers in the School Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-12, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11237-:d:1197335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. René Bohnsack & Christina M. Bidmon & Jonatan Pinkse, 2022. "Sustainability in the digital age: Intended and unintended consequences of digital technologies for sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 599-602, February.
    3. Laible, Marie-Christine & Anger, Silke & Baumann, Martina, 2020. "Personality Traits and Further Training," IAB-Discussion Paper 202034, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    4. Button, Scott B. & Mathieu, John E. & Zajac, Dennis M., 1996. "Goal Orientation in Organizational Research: A Conceptual and Empirical Foundation," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 26-48, July.
    5. Francesco Avvisati & Sara Hennessy & Robert B. Kozma & Stéphan Vincent-Lancrin, 2013. "Review of the Italian Strategy for Digital Schools," OECD Education Working Papers 90, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liping Chen & Huimin Chen & Kaifu Zeng, 2024. "Comparison of Two Models of Distance Education for Lifelong Learning in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-12, January.

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