Invitational theory was firstly introduced by William Purkey in 1978 in his book “Inviting School Success” and describes an educational framework of learning/teaching relationships based on human value, responsibility and capabilities.

Invitational theory starts from assumptions that each individual analyzes situations according to his past experiences and observations (self-concept theory) and that he develops behaviors based on his perceptions of the world. People are inherently valuable, capable and have a potential in all areas of human development, yet should be helped and directed to develop that potential. The very process of helping here is just as valuable as its end goal.

Invitational theory suggests individuals should be encouraged to make meaningful choices through interaction with teacher. Learning is here observed in social context, where learners should be invited by the teacher to develop their potentials. The invitation here is described by Purkey as “a summary of messages, verbal and nonverbal, formal and informal, that are sent to students with the intention of affirming for them that they are responsible, able, and valuable.”

Invitational learning suggests that teachers should, in order to facilitate learning, provide the learners with an environment that is optimally inviting.

The four assumptions of invitational theory give a Four points from which teachers should compose the ideal environment are:

• Respect
• Trust
• Optimism
• Intentionality

Respect, trust, optimism and intentionality should be a part of every educational process, and important to every teacher in their actions as this is the basis of a good student-teacher relationship and helps to promote positive behaviours, self-concepts and environment, consequently heightening the students achievements, as “No aspect of education is more important than the feeling on the part of the teacher that the individual student is important, valuable, and can learn in school”.

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Purkey, William Watson, and John M. Novák. Inviting school success: a self-concept approach to teaching and learning. Wadsworth Pub. Co., 1984.