Facilitating Teacher Educators' Professional Learning through a Regional Research Capacity-Building Network
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, Volume 39, Issue 3, 2011, pages 263-275.
This article reports on the Teacher Education Research Network (TERN) initiative, which piloted a model for research capacity building in teacher education in the North West of England.
The goal of this pilot model was to provide early and mid career researchers from seven regional universities with opportunities for professional learning and development.
This paper explores the intricate dynamics of the learning journeys undertaken by the participants.
Furthermore, this article critically examines the structural, social and cultural factors involved in the navigation of the complex ecologies in which they were embedded as teacher educators and how this impacted on their learning.
The authors conclude that initiatives such as TERN can result in academic learning and professional development, but in view of the internal and external pressures confronting education departments today it also raises pertinent issues with regard to the sustainability of such projects.