Section archive - Teacher Educators

This study focuses on the learning outcomes and professional development goals formulated by teacher educators who took part a professional development programme while putting together their registration portfolio. Findings were compared with those of a study on the first cohort in 2002, without the support of a professional development programme. The authors conclude that research shows that important aspects of the professional development of teacher educators are a clear frame of reference, attention for the important roles of teacher of teachers and teacher–researcher, inquiry-driven learning in a diverse community of teacher educators, interaction with practice, and inquiry into one’s own practice.

This article examines the teacher educator’s role in promoting resilience within new teachers in the light of tensions between what is healthy and sustainable for individual teachers vs. the institutions in which they work. The article concludes with specific recommendations for those in the international teacher education community. These recommendations include innovating university school partnerships to directly link individual and institutional well-being; structured opportunities for ‘mindfulness-based’ training; providing opportunities for candidates to analyse ‘cases’ of teaching from a macro-micro perspective; and learning how to take a professional stance.

The present paper reports on the results of a research project in which 18 teacher educators in three countries—Australia, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom—were interviewed about their experiences of working in the so-called “third space” between schools and universities, particularly in relation to the practicum, or field supervision. This research examined how university-based teacher educators manage the challenges inherent in working with mentor/cooperating teachers after having been or when still practicing as teachers in schools.

This study investigated the knowledge and experiences of practicing teacher educators and learn from them regarding what they believe they needed to know to do their work well. The authors use Cochran-Smith and Lytle’s theorizing about “relationships of knowledge and practice” to understand knowledge essential to teacher educating. The findings reveal that practicing teacher educators often feel unprepared to assume their role. The implication is that much work is needed in the academy to help both experienced and novice teacher educators become conscious of their own biases and subjectivities, develop skills and sensitivities that can support social justice teaching and researching, and build confidence as advocates for all learners and communities.