This book explores major factors impacting on teacher education in recent times. It uses examples from a broad range of international contributors who compare larger countries such as the USA, England and Australia with their smaller partners: Canada, Scotland and New Zealand, demonstrating the substantial differences existent in all three cases. They also contrast the approaches of the countries that are members of the European Union with those that are not and discuss the special circumstances of developing countries, using Malawi as a case study. The international dimension of the book allows it to address the impact of globalisation on teacher education, with attention given to subjects such as the implications of rapid technological change, the movement of teachers and students on a global level and the drive to improve standards in various parts of the world. The book asks key questions, such as whether teaching is a craft or a profession and whether teacher educators view themselves as practitioners or researchers. The question of how the profession is viewed from outside is also addressed, highlighting the lack of trust displayed by politicians and communities towards both teachers and teacher educators. The final chapter looks to the future, and considers strategies for dealing with it. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Education for Teaching.
The preparation of suitably qualified teachers is vital for political, social and economic growth in developing countries. Some major problems have been caused by the enormous growth in primary enrolment and by the need to train more teachers without reducing standards, exacerbated by the fact that in many cases the structure of teacher education is still in its formative stages. However, these problems can lead to innovative options and solutions. Originally published in 1988, this book reports on research and practice in teacher education around the world. It examines, for example, what happens to teacher education at times of great social change or political unrest, as in South Africa or Cyprus, how programmes in, for example, Nigeria or China approach minority education and how teachers are prepared for the teaching of indigenous populations such as the Saskatchevan Indians in Canada. These examples of international teacher education practice are presented within a specific national, regional and cultural context and provide important perspectives on the traditional views of how teachers are and should be prepared and professionally maintained. The book will be of interest to all involved in teacher education, adult education and curriculum design as well as to students of development studies.
This book explores major factors impacting on teacher education in recent times. It uses examples from a broad range of international contributors who compare larger countries such as the USA, England and Australia with their smaller partners: Canada, Scotland and New Zealand, demonstrating the substantial differences existent in all three cases. They also contrast the approaches of the countries that are members of the European Union with those that are not and discuss the special circumstances of developing countries, using Malawi as a case study. The international dimension of the book allows it to address the impact of globalisation on teacher education, with attention given to subjects such as the implications of rapid technological change, the movement of teachers and students on a global level and the drive to improve standards in various parts of the world. The book asks key questions, such as whether teaching is a craft or a profession and whether teacher educators view themselves as practitioners or researchers. The question of how the profession is viewed from outside is also addressed, highlighting the lack of trust displayed by politicians and communities towards both teachers and teacher educators. The final chapter looks to the future, and considers strategies for dealing with it. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Education for Teaching.
All over the world teachers are at the sharp end of education. Whatever the level of development of any given country, expectations of them are always high, usually too high. They tend to be routinely blamed for the ills of society and are rarely given credit. Is there now a situation of crisis in teacher education worldwide? This book highlights the predicament of teachers in widely differing locations and situations.
Teacher professional development is subject to reform as a consequence of three, often interwoven influences: innovation, politics and pedagogy. For example, recent decades have seen learning and teaching take centre stage. As technologies have become more accessible and relevant, so professional development has had to keep pace, in order to provide teachers with an opportunity to develop skills and experiences to deal with this innovation. In terms of politics, as the prescription of input and the measurement of output are regulated and deregulated by the State, so teacher professional development shifts to meet accountability and credibility demands. Likewise, as our understanding of learning and teaching evolves, in terms of knowledge, processes, dispositions and evaluation, subsequent teacher professional development programmes responded to these current or in-vogue research findings. This new and much-needed book describes how teacher professional development in science education, from initial teacher education to continuing professional development, continues to face and address the various challenges that arise as a consequence of innovation, politics or pedagogy.
This book provides insight into the history and current status of teaching in technical and vocational education across a broad range of countries. It contains studies of the profiles of teachers and lecturers and their educational practices. An overarching introduction embeds the content of the book into the current global context of Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This is the first substantial volume on the topic in 30 years.
This book reviews the Teacher Education and Development Study: Learning to Teach Mathematics, which tested 23,000 primary and secondary level math teachers from 16 countries on content knowledge and asked their opinions on beliefs and opportunities to learn.
The chapters in this volume outline and discuss examples of teacher educators in diverse global contexts who have provided successful self-initiated innovations for their teacher learners. The collection suggests that a way forward for second language teacher preparation programs is through 'reflective practice as innovation'.
Teacher education in a financial crisis – what are the consequences and how can probity be maintained? Education, like most other parts of everyday life, is experiencing the challenges brought about by global financial constrictions. This book presents the experiences and views of practising teacher educators from multiple countries and continents on how the melt-down in world economics has affected and will continue to affect teacher education and concomitant experiences in schooling. The ramifications are seen to extend into every aspect of teacher preparation, continuing staff development and teacher support, and there are significant implications for the quality of teaching and learning, and the ethos and standing of the process of education as a whole. Drawing on educational theory and social, political, and economic discourses, the book addresses issues such as policy, philosophy, organisation, funding, resources, modes of teaching and learning, curricular change, recruitment and retention, amongst others, and provides a snap-shot across diverse contexts. It aims to provide an evaluative, analytical but reflective picture of teacher education in the light of the world economic crisis, whilst exploring good practice and suggesting future strategies to develop the quality of teacher education and professional support, teaching and learning. The volume provides an insight into the need for a new paradigm for teacher education: one that involves teacher educators in devising a discourse of positive and radical change. It will be a valuable resource for teacher educators, educational leaders, policy makers, educational commentators and teachers seeking to engage with the scholarship of teaching as a means to engage in continuous professional development.
Mathematics teacher education includes the mathematics content teachers need to understand, ways that pedagogical approaches are developed, messages about the nature of mathematics teaching and learning, and interfaces between tertiary preparation and school contexts. Scholars from Sweden, France, Malawi, Singapore, New Zealand, Brazil, the USA, and Canada provide insights for the mathematics education community’s understanding of how teacher educators structure, develop, and implement their respective mathematics teacher education programs. Several themes emerged across the chapters, including: varied approaches to developing culturally responsive pedagogies and/or Indigenous perspectives; issues and challenges in fostering partnerships and collaborations; strategies for developing mathematics knowledge for teaching; and preparing flexible and resourceful teachers. Praise for International Perspectives on Mathematics Teacher Education: "International Perspectives on Mathematics Teacher Education explores different facets of mathematics teacher education in eight countries across five continents. The authors and editors answer important questions and open the door to critical conversations about policies and practices related to mathematics teacher recruitment, preparation, and professional development, among other topics. Every reader will develop new perspectives as they learn how one institution is engaging with Indigenous perspectives while other countries struggle with an insufficient supply of certified teachers. This book clearly demonstrates challenges, constraints, nuances and complexities to initiating and maintaining improvement across systems to enhance the work and spaces of mathematics teachers within different historical, cultural, social, and political contexts. This volume also generates ideas and opportunities for leaders, policymakers, and teacher educators to consider and learn from international colleagues about different approaches to mathematics teacher education practice and policy. Undoubtedly, debates about standards, content and experiences in programs, and accountability structures such as accreditation will continue. It is clear from the insights in this volume that strengthening mathematics teacher education will require stronger collaborations, frameworks, policies, infrastructure, and investments on a global scale and it will be critical to collaborate with and learn from colleagues in international settings. These conversations will require reciprocity, interdependence, and resilience as we pursue the ultimate goal of equipping the field of mathematics teacher education." Kathryn Chval Dean, College of Education Professor of Mathematics Education University of Illinois Chicago
Education is the most important investment in the long haul and the quality of education impacts on nation building, people's capacity for adaptation, value creation and innovation. The anchoring factor in successful education is the quality of the teacher. This edition on teacher education addresses the development of new teacher competencies in light of global changes. Teacher education must focus on producing thinking and innovative teachers - those who are not only good at classroom practices but also courageous in engaging the environment for real world learning. Recent international studies on the impact of educational reforms on student learning and achievement also point to the importance of focusing on teacher recruitment, teacher education and teacher development. What can we learn from the teacher policies and practices of some of the world's best performing education systems? How do some of the best systems cope with and envisage the future? What insights can policy makers, researchers and practitioners gain from the values paradigms, pedagogical, psychological and technological perspectives in innovating teacher education?The views presented in Teacher Education Frontiers: International Perspectives on Policy and Practice for Building New Teacher Competencies will help fill the gap for a much needed source of reference for policy leaders, researchers and practitioners to innovate and improve teacher education research, policy and practice.Also available in the Gale Virtual Reference Library (eBook).eBook pricing varies according to the size of your institution. Please contact us for details.eBook ISBN-13: 9789814392792
