THE EVALUATION OF THE SCHOOL INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The article presents the empirical results of the research of the Ukrainian schools’ educational environments in order to establish the level of their innovations. The research considers the innovative environment of educational institutions as an important condition for the success of modern educational reform in Ukraine. Education reform is an innovative change aimed at improving the quality of education. The effectiveness of the reform depends on the willingness of school leaders and teachers to innovate in order to improve the educational environment. Researchers have developed, characterized and experimentally tested four levels of innovation in the educational environment of the school: adaptive, experimental, search and initiative level, productive level. Researchers have developed and applied assessment tools for establishing the level of innovation in the educational environment. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires for schools’ directors and teachers. Qualitative methods included interviews, observation of the educational process and extracurricular activities of the school. The use of a qualimetric model made it possible to determine the level of innovation for experimental and control schools. The generalization and analysis of the obtained data allowed to identify problems in the educational environment of schools and to prepare recommendations for increasing the level of their innovation and development in the framework of education reform in Ukraine. Educational assessment of schools was conducted with the consent of administrations, teachers and parents of students. The study involved 137 teachers, including 76 in the experimental testing of assessment tools.