Establishing a learning environment through invitational education: An exploratory study in the USA and HK

Abstract

Numerous changes in education worldwide have resulted in a need for the development of schools and staff to meet the growing needs and challenges created by these changes. The Alliance for Invitational Education argues that invitational education (IE) is a means for the positive transformation of schools and the school climate. This article is based on a study which sought to explore the key aspects that influence the effective implementation of IE in those schools in the United States of America and Hong Kong that have received the International Award for Invitational Education. In the study it was found that respondents’ perceptions of the value of implementing IE were influenced by gender, the country in which they lived, the number of years since the IE had been implemented and the respondents’ experience of IE. All respondents who indicated that no changes in the treatment of people had had to be made, were the most positive on all aspects covered in the questionnaire.