The main purpose of this thesis was to gain insight into what the educators employed in educational institutions think about their own educational style and the reasons for such a choice. We have explored the question of the influences on the formation of educators' own educational style today and which methods they find helpful. The theoretical part of the thesis presents the theory of educational styles, examines various factors that significantly shape the development of one's own educational style as well as methods that can help educators in this process. It also touches on the regulations and principles of work of an educator in an educational institution. It is particularly focused on the method of reflection and its importance in the formation of the educational style of the educator.
The empirical part is designed qualitatively. The sample includes six educators who have been employed in one of the educational institutions in Slovenia for three years or more. A semi-structured interview was conducted with the educators. The data is analysed in terms of content and the results show that educators in educational institutions often think about their educational style and regularly evaluate it with the help of reflection. They mostly analyse their educational style on the basis of theoretical knowledge, and they wish to follow the guidelines of an authoritative educational style in their work. In most cases they think about it outside the time of their educational work with the aim of improving, changing and upgrading their own work, which leads the educator to the greatest possible professional development. The educational style of the educator is usually influenced by his theoretical knowledge acquired through formal and informal education, his practical experience, institutional rules, and the educator's personality and experiences, which he acquired while growing up in his primary family. The research contributes to the implementation of the principles of the socio-pedagogical paradigm of education in practice when dealing with children who are placed in educational institutions
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