What Makes up an Effective Emotional Intelligence Training Design for Teachers?
Source: International Journal of Learning,Teaching and Educational Research Vol. 16, No. 10, pp. 72-89
Recently there has been a growing interest in ways in which Emotional Intelligence (EI) can be enhanced among teachers.
However, although it has been noted that effective teaching requires high levels of EI, little is known about effective methods to develop teachers' EI.
The current qualitative study followed a two year EI development training for 21 teachers in one school in Israel.
The training included workshops and personal EI sessions for teachers, led by an external team of EI experts.
The training was based on the Bar-On model of EI which includes five main scales: intrapersonal, interpersonal, adaptability, stress management, general mood and 15 competencies within it (Bar-On, 1997).
Main emerging themes related to the training design included the focus on teachers' own development, the combination of personal and group processes, flexibility and self-direction, long-term in-school training, and leadership support. Implications for future teachers' EI training design are discussed.
The findings advance our understanding of possible mechanisms for promoting high-quality EI professional development for teachers.