Australian Teacher Education: Some background observations

This paper discusses the neglect of the study of pedagogy in teacher education. Transmission modes of imparting theory are criticized as is the undue elevation of atheoretical practical teaching in the preparation of teachers. The study of pedagogy as a central focus for teacher education is proposed with an emphasis on the practical application of theoretical notions in general teaching skills. The effective application of these skills to practice is suggested as the crucial element in the study of pedagogy. Attention is drawn to the need for pedagogical theory for various academic subjects, and for the need for systematic training of supervisors of practical teaching. Examples of the approach discussed are referred to.     

Student and Teacher Perspectives in Computer-Mediated Learning Environments in Teacher Education

Rapid advances in technology, particularly with the Internet, have led to the availability of numerous tools to support teaching and learning. This study involved the use of an Internet application, Connecting Communities of Learners (CCL), in courses for prospective teachers. Unlike earlier studies involving the use of the CCL, the context of this study related to full-time graduate students who used the CCL to augment weekly face-to-face instruction. An interpretive study was undertaken to ascertain student and teacher perceptions of the learning environments associated with the use of the CCL. Through the use of the CCL, students were able to be autonomous in regard to their own learning, co-participate with their peers and the instructor, and establish and maintain a community of learners in which participants could interact with others as co-teachers and co-learners. The CCL was perceived as a useful tool for building learning environments in which all participants can contribute written texts as evidence of what is known and as objects from which others can learn. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Research and Teacher Education: An Australian Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the ways in which educational research has contributed to or illuminated the processes of teacher education in Australia. It is concerned with the continuous spectrum of teacher development from pre-service courses to in-service education both formal and on-the-job.     

Issues and Directions in Australian Teacher Education

As from February 2001 all new entrants into teaching in England have been required to take and pass skills tests in the fields of numeracy and literacy before they are allowed to move on to the school-based induction phase of their training. These computerised tests were preceded by a paper-based numeracy test. In light of the considerable concern about the impact of the tests, we undertook a small pilot study consisting of interviews with a range of relevant people and written responses elicited by our letter to the Times Educational Supplement announcing our study and inviting contributions. Based on this data, our article focuses on: the origins and rationale of the tests; student and tutor response; institutional procedures and support for student teachers taking the test; issues of equal opportunities and social justice; technical requirements of testing; and implications for the recruitment of teachers. The conclusion that we draw is that there are major flaws in this recent example of 'fast policy' that may have serious implications for the future shape of the teaching workforce.     

教师培养制度的变革:从师范教育到教师教育

我国高等师范教育正处于从数量满足型向质量提高型转变的重要变革时期,灵活开放的教师教育培养体系适应了知识经济社会对高素质教师的需求,师范教育向教师教育的转型是历史的必然。建立“开放型”、“综合类”、“高层次”、“专业化”的教师教育体制对提高基础教育质量具有十分重要的作用。     

Experiences of a Research-based Approach to Teacher Education: suggestions for future policies

There is an ongoing discussion about teacher education today: its organisation, its academic status and the competence that results from different programmes. There is no one best way to organise teacher education. Rather, the appropriateness of organisation is related to the desired aims. In this article, we discuss one way to organise and implement academic education for class teachers, namely, a research-based approach, which has been used in Finland for the last 30 years. We elaborate on a theoretical framework for research-based teacher education and present empirical evidence for ways of implementing teacher education programmes, experiences and evaluations. Based on this evidence, we consider the present state of teacher education and suggest guidelines for the future. Research-based teacher education in Finland has been underway long enough to examine its results and its effectiveness in educating class teachers today. Together with our own research findings, the high-level performance of Finnish pupils in international examinations suggests that teacher education in Finland has been on the right course. We recommend that departments of teacher education should be established within universities and that teachers should obtain Master's degrees. Such steps will ensure that a higher conceptual level is adopted and that research is part of teacher education. Although our context is teacher education in Finland, the viewpoints expressed may be valuable for teachers, teacher educators and researchers on teacher education in a broader European context.     

Fully Professionalised Teacher Education: An Australian study in persistence

The article proposes that the proper status for teacher education, both historically and in terms of its research‐demonstrated importance, is one of full professionalism alongside other professional training regimes in universities. It proposes furthermore that the many reviews and reports of the past quarter‐century have been attempting to move the field in this direction. It has been the failure of governments, policy makers and other stakeholders to grasp this agenda that has left teacher education exposed to ongoing criticism for its perceived status and lack of effect. The article argues that, in spite of this failure professionalism has been achieved, evidenced by the demand for university places in teacher education and the international demand for its graduates. The article concludes with a case study that illustrates the long‐term benefits of a fully‐professionalized, university‐based program over and against the populism around notions of apprenticeship.     

Australian Early Childhood Teacher Education: Developments and Concerns

The history of early childhood teacher education in Australia dates back to 1897 with the establishment of the Kindergarten Union Teachers' Training College in Sydney. Since the 1970's, small, specialized, private teachers' colleges in each state have emerged to become part of the national government system of Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE's). These institutions had as a primary goal to teach rather than to conduct research about teaching. CAE's have historically been primarily responsible for vocationally-oriented professional courses of study such as nursing, teaching, social welfare, media and communications, fine arts and health studies. It was in this CAE's system where students were prepared to be early childhood, elementary, and secondary teachers. These programs lead to a three-year Diploma of Teaching or a four-year Bachelor of Education. This approach was based on the Australian pattern of specialized teacher training which was generally provided immediately upon graduation from high school. Universities provided training in early childhood-related areas such as psychology, psychiatry, social work and medicine but did not include specialized early childhood teacher preparation per se (although they do provide secondary teacher preparation).     

顺应全球化：教师教育全球观的确立

文章从分析全球化现象入手，全面审视了全球化时代教师教育面临的主要挑战，并以此为切入点。提出应该确立教师教育的全球观，构建新的教师教育项目，从而构建全新的教师教育体系，以期为新世纪教师教育改革指明出路。     

教师改变:一个亟待拓展的教师教育理论范畴

教师改变理论是20世纪90年代在国外逐步兴起的一种教师教育理论,目前其衍生的理论体系已经成为诸多教师教育政策和实践所依赖的重要理论基础.当前我国的教师改变理论研究尚处于起步阶段,对于“改什么”、“为什么改”、“如何改”等教师改变理论中的一些关键问题尚未展开系统的、本土化的研究.我国教师改变理论研究的关注度、聚焦度亟待提高.     

An English Perspective on Change in Initial Teacher Education

This paper describes the changes which have taken place recently in England with respect to the control, the content and the location of secondary initial teacher education. It identifies ways in which control of initial teacher education has been moved away from higher‐education institutions, which prescribe content more and emphasise competence‐based course requirements, and how the location has moved significantly from the higher‐education institution into the school. Some implications for Australian practice are considered in the context of recent criticism of the current situation.     

生活方式养成教育:高校德育生活论转向的新视角

生活方式是高校德育研究的范畴和对象, 生活方式养成教育是高校德育的重要内容,是高校德育以人为本理念的具体体现,也是高校德育与时俱进理论品质的重要表现.目前,高校德育在以现代生活方式为内容的养成教育方面存在缺失与遗憾,高校德育工作必须重视学生生活方式养成教育的价值内涵,确立其在德育工作中的重要地位,积极构建科学的高校生活方式养成教育体系,促进大学生这一特殊的成人群体全面健康地发展.     

Practices and Innovations in Australian Science Teacher Education Programs

This paper reports part of a larger study which was designed to investigate current practices in initial teacher education programs in Australia. The main data collection was by telephone interviews, which were carried out with science education specialists and program coordinators at all institutions which offer primary teacher education or secondary science teacher education. The interviews focused on practices in relation to program structures, science content studies, science methods studies and links to science-related school projects or to science business/industry. A large number of innovative practices were described. In addition, several case studies were carried out, which focused on particular innovations. The study identified several aspects of science teacher education which were of concern.     

师范教育的传统与变迁

师范教育经过几多变迁 ,由初期的低水平到 2 0世纪初的提高水平 ,不断地走向开放性 ;由只重视教师培养到职前职后教育的一体化 ,教师专业化程度越来越高。我国教师教育需要进行较深入的改革 ,才能适应当代教育改革和发展的要求     

教师教育与发展的文化历史观———学习教学》评介

本文评介了Viv Ellis,Anne Edwards 和Peter Smagorinsky 主编的《教师教育与发展的文化历史观—学习教学》。文章首先指明了该书的出版对于教师学习研究领域的意义,然后对本书的主要内容和结构进行了介绍,并且结合国内的外语教师学习研究现状进行了评论。作者希望通过本书的评介让国内的外语教师教育工作者与研究者了解社会文化理论各流派的由来与发展状况,明晰社会文化视角下教师学习研究的核心问题,进而思考如何结合中国实际开展有创新的本土化研究。     

Six Objectives for Technology Infusion into Teacher Education: a model in action

ABSTRACT

Effective use of educational technology is a very important challenge for teacher preparation institutions. Recognizing this fact, the College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha has developed an evolving model for effective integration of technology. This model addresses six objectives that focus on three key elements: equipment, expectations, and training. The paper outlines the model and then describes how it has been put into practice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After eight years of implementation and evolution, the model has helped many faculty members become active and confident users of educational technology.