Overcoming Fragmentation in Teacher Education Policy and Practice


Book Description

A collaborative series with the University of Cambridge Faculty of Education highlighting leading-edge research across Teacher Education, International Education Reform and Language Education. The need for greater coherence between the different aspects of teacher education has long been recognised. The 'universitization' of initial teacher education is sometimes perceived as widening the gap between theory and practice. In many countries there is no firm alignment between initial teacher education, induction and continuing professional development. Teacher education drivers are related to national systems and represent conflicting forces on teacher education institutions. Neoliberal policy initiatives have resulted in greater fragmentation. This book considers these issues in an international context and aims to identify directions for future research in relation to teacher education policy and practice.




Teacher Education Policy and Practice in Europe


Book Description

Teacher Education Policy and Practice in Europe provides a critical overview of the current challenges facing teacher education policy and practice in Europe. Drawing on a wide range of contributions, the book demonstrates that in order for teachers to reassume their role as agents of change, it is crucial to create a vision of a future European teacher and promote active engagement in preparing children to live and act in a multicultural and increasingly changing world. The book suggests ways in which teachers could be prepared to meet and overcome the struggles they will encounter in the classroom, including recommendations for teacher education, which open up new possibilities for policy, practice and research. Considering their own experiences as teachers, contributors also cover topics such as teacher education for the 21st century, the profile of the European teacher, citizenship and identity, social inclusion, linguistic and cultural diversity, and comparative education. Teacher Education Policy and Practice in Europe is essential reading for academics, researchers and postgraduate students engaged in the study of teacher education, educational policy and educational theory. It should also be of great interest to research-active teacher educators and practising teachers.




Europeanisation in Teacher Education


Book Description

This book explores the phenomenon and process of Europeanisation in the field of teacher education. Drawing on comparative case studies in Austria, Greece and Hungary, it examines empirical data and analyses key themes around the continuum of teacher education, the development of teacher competence frameworks, and the support to teacher educators. The book is the first of its kind to systematically research the landscape of European teacher education, exploring the interactions between national and European influences in the trajectory of teacher education policy and practice. Chapters offer an original and in-depth understanding of European influences that draw on evidence from policy documents and interviews with relevant stakeholders. It argues that teacher education systems are being Europeanised, although at different speeds and directions for each country. Factors such as the socio-political and economic contexts, historical traits and policy actors’ preferences at both national and institutional levels determine the translation process. This book will be of great interest for academics, educational researchers, practitioners and policymakers in Europe and beyond, informing wider discussions about the emerging European context in teacher education, education policy and what it means to be a European teacher.




Emotions in Second Language Teaching


Book Description

This edited volume explores the multifaceted nature of teacher emotions, presenting current research from different approaches and perspectives, focused towards the second language classroom. Twenty three chapters by well-known scholars from the applied linguistics, TESOL and educational psychology fields provide the reader with a holistic picture of teacher emotions, making this collection a significant contribution to the field of second language teaching. Given the emotional nature of teaching, the book explores a number of key issues or dimensions of L2 teachers’ emotions that were until now rarely considered. The contributions present the views of a select group of applied linguistic researchers and L2 teacher educators from around the world. This international perspective makes the book essential reading for both L2 teachers and teacher educators.




Recruiting and Educating the Best Teachers: Policy, Professionalism and Pedagogy


Book Description

This book demonstrates that policy, professionalism, and pedagogy are integral to the development of the best teachers that our students deserve. The empirical quantitative and qualitative studies and narratives presented in this volume demonstrate that strong analyses are needed to drive decisions on policy and practice.




Rethinking Teacher Education for the 21st Century


Book Description

This book focuses on current trends, potential challenges and further developments of teacher education and professional development from a theoretical, empirical and practical point of view. It intends to provide valuable and fresh insights from research studies and examples of best practices from Europe and all over the world. The authors deal with the strengths and limitations of different models, strategies, approaches and policies related to teacher education and professional development in and for changing times (digitization, multiculturalism, pressure to perform).




Learning, Marginalization, and Improving the Quality of Education in Low-income Countries


Book Description

Improving learning evidence and outcomes for those most in need in developing countries is at the heart of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal on Education (SDG4). This timely volume brings together contributions on current empirical research and analysis of emerging trends that focus on improving the quality of education through better policy and practice, particularly for those who need improved 'learning at the bottom of the pyramid' (LBOP). This volume brings together academic research experts, government officials and field-based practitioners. National and global experts present multiple broad thematic papers – ranging from the effects of migration and improving teaching to the potential of educational technologies, and better metrics for understanding and financing education. In addition, local experts, practitioners and policymakers describe their own work on LBOP issues being undertaken in Kenya, India, Mexico and Ivory Coast. The contributors argue persuasively that learning equity is a moral imperative, but also one that will have educational, economic and social impacts. They further outline how achieving SDG4 will take renewed and persistent effort by stakeholders to use better measurement tools to promote learning achievement among poor and marginalized children. This volume builds on the second international conference on Learning at the Bottom of the Pyramid (LBOP2).* It will be an indispensable resource for policymakers, researchers and government thinktanks, and local experts, as well as any readers interested in the implementation of learning equity across the globe. *The first volume Learning at the Bottom of the Pyramid (LBOP1), may be obtained at: http://www.iiep.unesco.org/en/learning-bottom-pyramid-4608




Teacher Induction Policy in Global Contexts


Book Description

Teacher induction is becoming increasingly important focus of education policy developed to help beginning teachers develop professionally and stay in teaching work force as a way to meet the needs of global economy and social transformation for teaching quality and student learning in many countries. Policy borrowing is a common practice in teacher induction across different countries, Such a policy borrowing allow policymakers in particular countries to access different options and choices in their policy development instead of trial and error. However, it is often done without a careful policy analysis as its base, especially, the analysis that focuses on the problems the borrowed policy intends to solve, social, political, and educational contexts in which it develops, explicit and implicit conceptual assumptions underlying it, its implementation and associated challenges, and its intended and unintended impacts. Without such an analysis as its base, the implementations of policy borrowed from other countries can causes unnecessary financial, human resource, and emotional costs in its context, even if the policy prove to be successful in the other place. This book serves for such needs of policy analysis in the field of teacher induction. It starts with the book editor’s overview of the book and its intention. Then, there are 16 chapters each is written by a distinguished scholar or a policy analyst from a particular country that analyzes the focuses, contexts, assumptions, implementation, challenges, and consequences of a specific teacher induction policy developed in their home country and then raise important research questions emerging from their analysis. The book is expected to attract readers including scholars, policy makers, practitioners, and graduate students in different countries who have interests in teacher induction research, policy, and practice.




Educational Theory in the 21st Century


Book Description

This open access book reviews the effects of the twenty-first century scientific-technological and social developments on the educational theory. The first part handles the subject, focusing on technology and educational philosophy. In the second part, the implications of new human and social conceptions towards the education paradigms are examined. In the chapters of the last part of the book, more practical dimensions of education are discussed. Transforming school designs, school management, learning-teaching approaches and teacher competencies are discussed in the context of broader social, cultural and technological changes.




Teacher Education in the Nordic Region


Book Description

This open access book is the first account of the whole diversity of teacher education in the Nordic region: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, the Åland Islands and Sápmi (where the Sámi people live). Today, large parts of the world are looking to the Nordic model of social organization, and interest in the Nordic comprehensive school system and teacher education arrangements is no exception. A good education is a key to prosperity and well-being. And the quality of students’ education is undoubtedly linked to the quality of their teachers’ education. While teacher education in the Nordic region is globally admired, it also faces new challenges. The leading scholars writing in this volume discuss the challenges and opportunities that professional environments are facing. By providing solid portraits of each area as well as analyses across the region, this book will be a great resource to students, academics in teacher education and schooling as well as social scientists and policy-makers inside and outside the Nordic region. This is an open access book.