Teachers’ Professional Development in Global Contexts


Book Description

The essence of this book is to shed light on the nature of current educational practices from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Both teachers and their trainers provide a better understanding of teacher training and learning processes. Mutual interrelations and the provision of knowledge between academia and schools are essential for merging discourses and aligning positions, whereby turning practice into theory and theory into practice in today’s teaching is vital for suitably responding to multiple issues and increasingly diverse contexts. The array of studies from around the world compiled in this volume allow readers to find common ground, discover shared concerns, and define goals. Studying teaching practice and training in different contexts reveals the state-of-the-art practices and identifies those issues that enable educators to understand the complexities involved. The chapters examine the development of our knowledge and understanding of teaching practices, at the same time as analysing engaging learning environments, the sustainability of learning and teaching practices, and highlighting new practices based on the use of ICTs. The diverse teaching contexts considered in this compilation of international research are organized according to the following topics: Teaching occupational learning and knowledge; Teacher beliefs and reflective thinking; and Innovative teaching procedures. The contributors are Laura Sara Agrati, Dyann Barras, Verónica Basilotta Gómez-Pablos, Benignus Bitu, Robyn Brandenburg, Heather Braund, Michael Cavanagh, Chiou-hui Chou, Jean Clandinin, Leah L. Echiverri, Maria Flores, Francisco García Peñalvo, María García-Rodríguez, Ana García-Valcárcel, Stephen Geofroy, Raquel Gómez, Jenna Granados, Hafdís Guðjónsdóttir, Jukka Husu, Jóhanna Karlsdóttir, Keith Lane, Celina Lay, Samuel Lochan, Marta Martín-del-Pozo, Ella Mazor, Sharon M. McDonough, Lennox McLeod, Juanjo Mena, Wendy Moran, Brian Mundy, Nkopodi Nkopodi, Lily Orland-Barak, Edda Óskarsdóttir, Samuel O. Oyoo, Stefinee Pinnegar, Eleftherios Soleas, Lystra Stephens-James, Linda Turner, Antoinette Valentine-Lewis, and Sarah Witt.




Second Language Writing Instruction in Global Contexts


Book Description

This book revisits second language (L2) writing teacher education by exploring the complex layers of L2 writing in non-English dominant contexts (i.e. English as a foreign language contexts). It re-envisions L2 writing teacher education by moving away from uncritical embracement of Western-based writing pedagogies.




Teaching and Learning Chinese in Global Contexts


Book Description

Although there is an extensive literature on the teaching of English as a Second or Other Language, there is very little published research on the teaching or learning of Chinese in similar contexts. This book is the first to bring together research into the teaching and learning of Chinese as a foreign language to non-native speakers, as a second language to minority groups and as a heritage/community language in the diaspora.The volume showcases the contribution of researchers working in such areas as language teaching and learning, policy development, language assessment, language development, bilingualism, all within the context of Chinese as a Second or Other Language. This is an exciting extension of teaching research beyond the traditional TESOL field and with be of interest to researchers and practitioners working in applied linguistics and Chinese language education worldwide.




Approaches to Learning and Teaching Global Perspectives


Book Description

A subject-specific guide for teachers to supplement professional development and provide resources for lesson planning. Approaches to learning and teaching Global Perspectives is the result of close collaboration between Cambridge University Press and Cambridge International Examinations. Considering the local and global contexts when planning and teaching an international syllabus, the title presents ideas for Global Perspectives with practical examples that help put theory into context. Teachers can download online tools for lesson planning from our website. This book is ideal support for those studying professional development qualifications or international PGCEs.




Language Teacher Development in Digital Contexts


Book Description

This volume demonstrates how various methodologies and tools have been used to analyze the multidimensional, dynamic, and complex nature of identities and professional development of language teachers in digital contexts that have not been adequately examined before. It therefore offers new understandings and conceptualizations of language teacher development and learning in varied digital environments. The collection of pieces illustrates a field that is recognizing that digital environments are the contexts of teacher learning, not simply the object of it, and that issues of identity and agency are central to that learning. As an excellent resource on digital technologies, CALL, gaming, or language teacher identity and agency, the book can be used as a textbook in various applied linguistics courses and graduate seminars.







Improving Teacher Quality


Book Description

This groundbreaking work examines teacher quality, work norms, and professional learning opportunities, using data from 15 countries. The authors compare and contrast the United States with two high-achieving countries--Japan and Australia--that have implemented very different approaches to improving teacher quality. Drawing on both large international data sets and ethnographic and small-scale studies, the book addresses critical questions: (2) How do teacher quality and teacher recruitment and hiring policies in the United States differ from those in other countries?; (2) How do the working conditions of U.S. teachers differ from those of teachers in other countries?; (3) How do U.S. teachers' opportunities for professional learning differ from those of teachers in other countries?; (4) How do the characteristics of the national teaching force influence student achievement?; And (5) What U.S. policies offer promise for improving teacher quality?




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.




Early Education in a Global Context


Book Description

Discusses professional development in several contexts, children's understandings and programs for children. This book should give the reader an idea of the range of work that is being done around the globe. It brings together insider perspectives on early education in different contexts.




Handbook of Research on Engineering Education in a Global Context


Book Description

Engineering education methods and standards are important features of engineering programs that should be carefully designed both to provide students and stakeholders with valuable, active, integrated learning experiences, and to provide a vehicle for assessing program outcomes. With the driving force of the globalization of the engineering profession, standards should be developed for mutual recognition of engineering education across the world, but it is proving difficult to achieve. The Handbook of Research on Engineering Education in a Global Context provides innovative insights into the importance of quality training and preparation for engineering students. It explores the common and current problems encountered in areas such as quality and standards, management information systems, innovation and enhanced learning technologies in education, as well as the challenges of employability, entrepreneurship, and diversity. This publication is vital reference source for science and engineering educators, engineering professionals, and educational administrators interested in topics centered on the education of students in the field of engineering.