Challenges and enablers in the advancement of educational innovation. The forces at work in the transformation of education

• Published in: Teaching and teacher education Vol. 135; p. 104359
• Main Authors: Valdés Sánchez, Víctor, Gutiérrez-Esteban, Prudencia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2023
• Subjects: Barriers; Change agents; Change strategies; Educational change; Educational innovation; Facilitators; Facilitators; Educational innovation; Change agents; Educational change; Barriers; Change strategies
• ISSN: 0742-051X; 1879-2480
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tate.2023.104359

This study was carried out in Spain between 2018 and 2021 and aims to identify the obstacles and facilitators that are necessary to embrace the culture of innovation in education. A qualitative approach was applied, using grounded theory and semi-structured interviews with 40 key informants in educational innovation. The value of this study lies in the identification of eleven barriers and eight facilitators, among which the support of management teams stands out as the main driver of innovative teaching practices, and the educational administration as a major barrier that slows down and discourages teachers' innovation initiatives.
•Facilitating and barriers factors for educational innovation are identified.•School principals, teachers, innovation experts, management teams and educational administration participate in the study.•Eleven barriers and eight different facilitators for educational innovation have been identified.•Educational administration is perceived as the main obstacle to educational innovation.•The support of teams management is essential for the promotion of educational innovative practices.