Unlocking the power of QTR in Sweden
A pioneering international partnership
Following a successful pilot last September, QTR Adviser Michelle Ware returned to Sweden in January to deliver a QTR workshop to 50 teachers. The trip marks the next stage of a promising collaboration with Mälardalen University researchers, who were inspired by the work of Laureate Professor Jenny Gore and her colleagues at the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Below, Michelle shares her experience presenting QTR workshops in Sweden and navigating the cultural and language divide. Michelle reflects on the transformative power of QTR, the shared enthusiasm of the Swedish educators and researchers, and the ability to adapt QT professional development to diverse educational contexts.
Bridging continents: QTR takes flight to Sweden
This partnership commenced with the launch of a pilot QTR research project in four Swedish schools, a few hours west of Stockholm in September 2023. The pilot workshop was well received by the research team and participating school leaders, leading to Michelle being invited back in early January for a second, larger workshop.
“Both visits have been rich cultural experiences,” Michelle said. “The Swedes certainly know how to make you feel at home in their beautiful country.”
Central to the project’s momentum has been the dynamic team of researchers, led by Dr. Jannika Lindvall, Dr. Sandra Jederud, and Simon Sjölund, with enthusiastic support from participating principals and teachers.
According to Michelle, her trip in January coincided with some of the coldest weather seen in Sweden for many years, with maximum temperatures reaching tops of –16C!
“Travelling from the heat of the Australian summer, this most recent trip provided dramatic contrasts in temperature, daylight hours and landscapes.”
The QT Model as a bridge: Breaking down barriers through QTR
The language barrier presented an initial challenge to delivering the QTR workshop to teachers in Sweden. Whilst the resources were translated into Swedish, Michelle delivered the workshops in English. Michelle said the participants were so fluent in English that she forgot it was not their native language. The Swedish teachers engaged deeply with the QT Model and actively participated in professional learning community (PLC) discussions.
“Despite being on opposite sides of the world with two very different languages, I was struck by the way Australian and Swedish teachers had similar PLC discussions about some of the more challenging ideas and concepts of the QT Model. The workshop revealed the power of a common language for teachers,” Michelle said.
The way in which the Swedish educators embraced QTR demonstrated the universality of the QT Model, and its ability to transcend language and cultural differences. The insightful comments and reflections from participants showcased the extent to which QTR principles resonated with the group, particularly with regard to enhancing teaching practice and fostering positive school culture.
Empowering educators: Transformative insights from QTR Sweden
As our QTR Advisers often observe, there are powerful moments within workshops when something about QTR suddenly clicks for a participant; a lightbulb moment. One such poignant example was when a Swedish teacher expressed that, “I realise now that I already have everything I need within me to teach well. [QTR] has just given me a way to release it”. Such revelations underscore the empowering nature of QTR and the QT Model, providing educators with a structured approach to affirm aspects of their existing practice and build their capacity as teachers capable of great teaching.
Participants shared their excitement for the next steps in their QTR journey. One teacher commented on how much fun it had been to take part in the PLC discussions and how much they were looking forward to starting QTR in their school, while another said, “This is exactly the type of skills development we need to actually enhance our teaching.”
Next on the agenda with our Swedish colleagues from Mälardalen University are plans for lesson coding discussions and a joint presentation at an international research conference later in 2024.
A shared journey towards educational excellence
The QTR Sweden experience showcases the adaptability and the universal nature of the QT Model and scalability of QT professional development.
Across geographical and linguistic boundaries, educators from Australia and Sweden have developed a strong educational partnership, with the QT Model facilitating a shared vision of quality teaching. The journey has been a cultural exchange, with the language of the QT Model serving as a unifying force and providing transformative insights, highlighting the global relevance of evidence-backed professional development.
As the collaboration between the QT Academy and Mälardalen University continues to flourish, the impact of the QT Model and QTR on teaching and learning is poised to continue its global trajectory.
