The Professional Development of Teacher Educators


Book Description

This book makes a significant contribution to a hitherto much neglected area. The book brings together a wide range of papers on a scale rarely seen with a geographic spread that enhances our understanding of the complex journey undertaken by those who aspire to become teachers of teachers. The authors, from more than ten countries, use a variety of approaches including narrative/life history, self-study and empirical research to demonstrate the complexity of the transformative search by individuals to establish their professional identity as teacher educators. The book offers fundamental and thoughtful critiques of current policy, practice and examples of established structures specifically supporting the professional development of teacher educators that may well have a wider applicability. Many of the authors are active and leading persons in the international fields of teacher education and of professional development. The book considers: novice teacher educators, issues of transition; identity development including research identity; the facilitation and mentoring of teacher educators; self-study research including collaborative writing, use of stories; professional development within the context of curriculum and structural reform. Becoming a teacher is recognised as a transformative search by individuals for their teaching identities. Becoming a teacher educator often involves a more complex and longer journey but, according to the many travel stories told here, one that can be a deeply satisfying experience. This book was published as a special issue of Professional Development in Education.




The Professional Teacher in Further Education


Book Description

This essential text provides an accessible and up to date critical analysis of professionalism for student teachers and practitioners within the Further Education (FE) sector. Professional values, knowledge, understanding and skills form the core of the standards against which teachers are measured and the framework for the teacher’s development, starting with initial qualifications and progressing through a career long process of continual professional development (CPD). The book introduces a range of theoretical models and examples of professionalism. It examines the critical importance of self-awareness and understanding of others as the basis for effective professional relationships with learners. The application of professional values, knowledge and skills, both in the teaching role and in the wider academic community, is discussed. Throughout the reader is encouraged to relate the theories to their own professional values and practice and to reflect on their own levels of professionalism and CPD requirements.




Teacher Educators and Their Professional Development


Book Description

This book focuses on the professional development of teacher educators, forming a definitive and expert resource for all those interested in this area of professional learning. It offers an in-depth overview of existing international research and professional development initiatives in the area of teacher educators' learning. The book highlights relevant research on the topic, identifies the lessons learnt from recent initiatives, and indicates ways forward for teacher educators' professional learning internationally. It provides a unique combination of six years of pan-European collaborative work, resulting in a book with clear relevance and appeal to both academics and practitioners internationally. The book conceptualizes teacher educators' professional development, in order to deepen understanding of how and why learning occurs and conducts empirical research into the professional development needs of teacher educators internationally using quantitative and qualitative methods in order to redress gaps in existing research. This book will be of great interest to academics, researchers and post-graduate students in the fields of teacher education and professional development and learning.




Exploring Professional Development Opportunities for Teacher Educators


Book Description

Focusing on the partnerships and collaborations between teacher educators and students with regards to faculty members’ professional development, contributors from around the world provide insight into professional development opportunities in the context of teaching and collaborating with students. Contributions from these distinguished scholars come from a broad range of countries and cultures to ensure that the presented studies reveal rich information about diverse systems of teacher education. The studies presented in the book demonstrate how these faculty student partnerships can significantly assist faculty members to develop professionally and produce benefits and impacts on their professional identity. Providing ideas and tools aimed at teacher educators around the world, this book explores partnerships and cooperation as a tool to lead to development and ultimately promotion. This book is a must-read for all researchers, teacher educators and lecturers looking to expand their knowledge of partnerships with students in higher education.




Teacher Professional Development for Improving Quality of Teaching


Book Description

This book makes a major contribution to knowledge and theory by drawing implications of teacher effectiveness research for the field of teacher training and professional development. The first part of the book provides a critical review of research on teacher training and professional development and illustrates the limitations of the main approaches to teacher development such as the competence-based and the holistic approach. A dynamic perspective to policy and practice in teacher training and professional development is advocated. The second part of the book provides a critical review of research on teacher effectiveness. The main phases of this field of research are analysed. It is pointed out that teacher factors are presented as being in opposition to one another. An integrated approach in defining quality of teaching is adopted. The importance of taking into account findings of studies investigating differential teacher effectiveness is argued. Another significant limitation of this field of research is that the whole process of searching for teacher effectiveness factor was not able to have a significant impact upon teacher training and professional development. For this reason it is advocated that teacher training and professional development should be focused on how to address grouping of specific teacher factors associated with student learning and on how to help teachers improve their teaching skills by moving from using skills associated with direct teaching only to more advanced skills concerned with new teaching approaches and differentiation of teaching. The book refers to studies conducted in different countries illustrating how the proposed approach can be used by policy and practice in teacher education. Specifically, the book provides evidence supporting the validity of the theoretical framework upon which this approach is based. Moreover, experimental and longitudinal studies supporting the use of this approach for improvement purposes are presented and suggestions for further research utilising and expanding the Dynamic Approach for teacher training and professional development are provided.




Professional Development of Teacher Educators in Further Education


Book Description

Professional Development of Teacher Educators in Further Education critically analyses the specific challenges relating to teacher educators in the English further education (FE), such as the diverse nature of learners and the variety of educational contexts. It focuses on the journeys to becoming teacher educators, their relevant teaching know-how and professional needs. This book combines theoretical frameworks with both qualitative and quantitative data to outline the pathways, professional identities, knowledge, and continuous professional development of teacher educators. This data is used to discuss the four main themes. The first deals with the teacher educators’ initial disciplinary areas, journey-making to be educators, and the current titles/positions. The next one delineates the know-how (knowledge, experiences, capacities and skill sets) to perform as teacher educators. The third one relates to their professional identities and the final topic, their professional requirements as FE teacher educators. Contributing to the field of further and vocational education, this book will be of great interest for researchers, academics, and postgraduate students in the field of education, specifically FE and teacher educators.




Teaching and Learning in Further Education


Book Description

First Published in 1997. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.




Becoming a Teacher Educator


Book Description

Becoming a Teacher Educator is an impressive book for teacher educators who want to be informed about the latest views and practices of their profession. It is the first book that addresses a range of topics related to the work of teacher educators, the induction of teacher educators and their further professional development. Becoming a Teacher Educator has a practical focus and it provides theoretical insights, experiences of experts and practical recommendations. The book is rooted in the Association of Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) and many of the chapters are written by authors who are active members of the ATEE. Researchers and practitioners from different parts of Europe, and beyond, joined their efforts to write a book that is truly international and combines research, practice and reflection. Becoming a Teacher Educator is essential reading for novice teacher educators as well as for experienced teacher educators who want to keep up with the latest insights in their profession. This book provides a guide for those who supervise novice and experienced teacher educators and for various professionals who are responsible for the professional development of teacher educators. "There is a growing need for evidence-based resources made available to (future) teacher educators. Since a learning society requires new sets of competencies of the main actors, we are most in want of knowledgeable teacher educators that support the professional development of their (student) teachers. This book fits the actual demands." (Dr. Joost Lowyck, Professor Emeritus, former director of the Teacher Education Institute, Leuven University). "This is an original book in a very important area. The editors define the concept of ‘teacher educator’ widely and I think, therefore, that the book is relevant for schools, higher education, and education authorities of all kinds. The authorship and theme have wide relevance across Europe, Australasia and North America." (Prof. Bob Moon, Professor in Education Teaching Studies, Department of Education, Open University, UK). "The book highlights that, while the current global focus is very much on the need to educate "sufficient and highly qualified teachers", little political focus is given to those who "teach the teachers". What makes this book distinctive for all engaged in teacher education, whether experienced or novice, is that it allows the spotlight on those who teach the teachers and the opportunity for teacher educators to discuss, debate and seriously examine themselves as a profession." (Simone White, Deakin University, Australia)







Professional Capital


Book Description

The future of learning depends absolutely on the future of teaching. In this latest and most important collaboration, Andy Hargreaves and Michael Fullan show how the quality of teaching is captured in a compelling new idea: the professional capital of every teacher working together in every school. Speaking out against policies that result in a teaching force that is inexperienced, inexpensive, and exhausted in short order, these two world authorities--who know teaching and leadership inside out--set out a groundbreaking new agenda to transform the future of teaching and public education. Ideas-driven, evidence-based, and strategically powerful, Professional Capital combats the tired arguments and stereotypes of teachers and teaching and shows us how to change them by demanding more of the teaching profession and more from the systems that support it. This is a book that no one connected with schools can afford to ignore. This book features: (1) a powerful and practical solution to what ails American schools; (2) Action guidelines for all groups--individual teachers, administrators, schools and districts, state and federal leaders; (3) a next-generation update of core themes from the authors' bestselling book, "What's Worth Fighting for in Your School?" [This book was co-published with the Ontario Principals' Council.].