Perspectives on the training of school governing bodies: towards an effective and efficient financial management system

Abstract

The argument of this paper is that the use of distance education methods is essential for the provision of all teacher education in South Africa – not just an option for a few programmes in one or two institutions. For this reason, the challenges of distance teacher education are the major challenges for achieving the goal set out in the National Policy Framework for Teacher Education and Development: ‘more teachers, better teachers’. Challenges include increasing the flexibility and location of current teacher education programmes in order to attract and support a more diverse teacher target audience, designing courses to nurture dialogue and integrate learner support, and moving beyond surface change in response to criticism. Finally, although external quality assurance processes are critical in creating a shared understanding of quality standards and the need for change, quality assessment needs to be followed up with support.     

Perceived efficacy of teachers in Macao and their alacrity to engage with inclusive education

ABSTRACT

This paper reports findings of a mixed methods study examining private school teachers’ perceptions of efficacy in dealing with the challenges presented by inclusive education in Macao. This is highly pertinent after the Government invited consultation to propose changes to amendments of the Decree Law of 1996 concerning the education of students with Special Education Needs (SEN) which will likely see private schools being required to accept these students in the future. Within the context of teacher preparedness for inclusive education, the study found that a number of teachers felt that they were not at all prepared to teach students with SEN. Whilst some teachers suggested that they lacked skills and knowledge in teaching in inclusive classrooms, some felt overwhelmed with the challenges. The teachers proposed that they would need to know how to provide instructional adaptations and modifications to support students with SEN. Implications for continuous development of teacher training and education are discussed within the context of improving teacher efficacy and how private school teachers could better respond to the challenges of inclusive education in Macao.     

Supply and demand for teachers: is open and distance learning an answer?

Abstract

The sheer number of teachers required to cater for an unprecedented increase in enrolment in developing countries, and corresponding continuous professional development to improve teaching and learning, remain a major problem. Given this problem, I argue that traditional face-to-face training of teachers no longer suffices to manage imbalances in the supply of and demand for teachers in South Africa, and hence the need for open and distance learning. I further argue that the allocation of resources to higher education institutions for teacher training using distance education within South Africa, if not reviewed, will constrain the quality and capacity of institutions to respond adequately to future teacher shortages. I conclude that the discourse on teacher supply and demand should be tempered with awareness of the looming crisis of teacher retention that is always at the periphery of the planning of, and discourse on teacher provision in the country.     

Teachers as change agents in making teaching inclusive in some selected rural schools of Limpopo Province,South Africa: implications for teacher education

ABSTRACT

This paper reports on teachers as change agents to implement inclusive education in some rural secondary schools in South Africa. The study followed a qualitative case study research methodology. Eight teachers were recruited to form part of the study through a purposive sampling strategy. Data were collected through interviews, observations and document analysis. The study found that: (a) teachers were resilient in the face of lack of resources to implement inclusive education, (b) teachers did their best despite lack of capacity to implement inclusive education, (c) teachers showed the willingness to effect change, and (d) when they collaborated with others, they achieved more. These findings have at least four implications for teacher education: One that institutions should train teachers to survive with meagre resources. Two, professional development initiatives should be planned to capacitate teachers on inclusive education. Three, teacher education institutions should develop programmes that include models of teacher agency such as the one displayed by these teachers. Four, teacher education should develop programmes that teach teachers how to collaborate with parents and other stakeholders to make inclusive education possible.     

教师教育机构认证制度构建的探析

为了保证教师教育质量,应尽快建立教师教育机构认证制度,只有那些通过认证的机构才能有资格培养和培训教师。本文在分析发达国家教师教育机构认证制度的发展概况和我国教师教育机构设置现状的基础上,提出建立我国教师教育机构资质认证标准的动因,并就构建教师教育机构认证指标体系,提出了一个框架性的意见,以便于对教师教育机构实施定期的评价,推动教师教育机构的健康发展。     

Teacher training through distance education: IICBA's experience

Abstract

This paper describes the experiences of the International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) in running distance education programmes for teachers and education personnel in sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute, established by UNESCO in 1999 and located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is mandated to work with teacher education institutions (TEIs) in sub-Saharan Africa in the areas of curriculum development, teacher education, distance education and educational planning. The subject areas IICBA focuses on are the teaching of Science, Mathematics, languages and ICT (Information and communication technologies) through the use of modern pedagogy. The Institute implements its projects in partnership with distance education offering institutions in Africa and other parts of the world. The paper begins by providing brief remarks on IICBA and its mandate and organisation, and proceeds to explain why it focuses on the areas of teacher education, capacity building and the distance mode of delivery to offer its training programmes. At the end, it describes the kinds of programmes it has been running since its establishment and the partner distance education institutions that offered the training courses.     

Preparing Preservice Teachers for Life in Schools: The Role of Doctoral Education

ABSTRACT

Physical education teachers face considerable sociopolitical challenges that can impede quality instruction and complicate recruitment into the profession. Physical education teacher education faculty members may not be prepared to address these challenges during their doctoral education. Accordingly, the purpose of the paper was to utilize the lessons learned from occupational socialization research to propose competencies that can be integrated into doctoral education to help future faculty members integrate sociopolitical learning into physical education teacher education. These include: (a) understanding socialization literature and the implications for teacher education, (b) helping doctoral students understand their own prior socialization experiences, (c) recruiting highly qualified preservice teachers, (d) helping preservice teachers question their subjective theories, (e) developing and coordinating field experiences, and (f) preparing preservice teachers for the sociopolitical realities of schools. These competencies align with the proposed addition of a new standard for initial teacher education that addresses sociopolitical learning.     

The use of a collaborative math tutoring model to improve content knowledge among special education teacher candidates

ABSTRACT

The mathematics achievement gap in special education is a chronic and significant challenge for the field. The need for improved teacher preparation in mathematics is crucial in addressing this gap. This study examines a capstone experience in higher level mathematics tutoring for preservice teachers. Results indicate that the experience was effective at improving preservice teachers’ higher level math content knowledge compared to teachers who did not receive experiential math learning in their teacher preparation. Implications for preservice teacher preparation programs are presented.     

研究、服务、引领基础教育改革与发展

本文指出我国教育事业进入了从规模发展转向质量提升的新阶段,教师队伍建设和教师教育的基础性地位和关键性作用更为突出,也面临着前所未有的严峻挑战和发展机遇。并指出:师范大学要进一步明确教师教育责任,强化教师教育特色;进一步改革创新,全面提高教师教育质量;进一步发挥优势,面向基础教育,服务基础教育,引领基础教育。     

教师教育“综合型”培养模式的探索

针对当前我国高等师范院校教师教育培养模式存在的问题,以及基础教育新一轮新课程改革对新型师资规格的需求,总结了当前部分高师院校进行的综合型教师教育改革试点的状况,提出了构建适应基础教育改革需求,特别是适应西部民族贫困地区基础教育改革的高师院校教师教育"综合型"教师培养模式,包括主辅式、整合式、分—综式("3+2"专升本)培养模式等。     

高等师范院校“综合型”教师人才培养模式的探索

本文针对当前我国高等师范院校教师教育培养模式存在的问题,以及基础教育新一轮新课程改革对新型师资规格的需求,总结了当前部分高师院校进行的综合型教师教育改革试点的状况,提出了构建适应基础教育改革需求,特别是适应西部民族贫困地区基础教育改革的高师院校教师教育"综合型"教师培养模式,包括主辅式、整合式、分—综式(专升本)培养模式等。     

Developing an appreciation of what it means to be a school-based teacher educator

The nature of partnership between schools and higher education institutions is changing in many countries, with experienced teachers taking on more responsibility for teacher education whilst remaining in their school as teachers, rather than entering the higher education sector to become teacher educators. This research considers the perspectives of these school-based teacher educators (SBTEs) in England, exploring the impact that this role has on them, their student-teachers and their schools. Some benefits and challenges that they face in the dual role of teacher and teacher educator are revealed. The research takes an interpretive perspective, listening to the meanings being constructed by the participants through use of a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and a focus group of student-teachers who learned from these SBTEs. Possible impacts on student-teachers’ learning and implications for the development of high-quality teacher education are examined.     

Teacher educators’ professional journeys: pedagogical and systemic issues affecting role perceptions

ABSTRACT

Teacher educators in many countries share similar concerns as they aspire to improve education for learners and stimulate interest in further study and careers. The roles and professional development of school teachers have been researched, but little attention has been given to teacher educators. Using a small-scale, illuminative study in England and South Africa, this paper examines pedagogical implications of progression from classroom teacher to teacher educator-tutor. Systemic issues include attitudes to personal scholarship in moving to high stakes academic environments requiring research. In both countries, there were issues of student teachers’ subject knowledge and their capacity to translate knowledge for learners. South African teacher educators were concerned about student teachers’ lack of appreciation of the integrity of conceptual understanding and sequencing of topic content. Implications for the professional development of teacher educators and their role identities are considered.     

Controlling Change: Teacher education in the UK

The staff of teacher education institutions in Scotland are under increasing pressure to ensure that teachers in training acquire a range of Information and Communications Technology skills. This paper reports a study of current skills and attitudes of some Scottish training institutions and students' related experiences. Ways of ensuring effective development of skills are discussed.     

农村教师专业发展:中国教师教育研究新动向

中国目前有中小学教师1000多万人,其中80%多在县镇以下农村地区任教;广大农村教师支撑着中国教育的大半壁江山。直面这个十分重要而又独特的教师群体,近年来中国学界对农村教师教育及其专业发展问题逐日关注,呈现出一些值得透视的研究新动向,主要是:农村教师专业发展概念的提出与诠释;聚焦农村教师专业发展面临的问题与挑战,如农村地区"教师教育边缘化"问题;促进农村教师专业发展的对策与建议,旨在构建人民满意的农村教师队伍,提高农村教育质量。     

Policy and Practice in the Professional Development of Teachers

ABSTRACT

This paper is intended as a contribution towards understanding recent developments in government policy for teacher education by providing an account of the dilemmas and issues the authors are encountering in the course of developing practice in three key areas in the education of teaching. These are: the implementation of school‐based forms of initial teacher education in partnership with schools; the development of higher education involvement in and responsibility for teachers’ professional development in their first year of teaching; the development of profiles of competence by which to evaluate and assess the progress of beginning teachers. Opportunities for the creation of coherent, principled progression in the early years of teaching are identified, as are sources of confusion and tension in current policy changes.     

Second year teacher candidates reflect on information technology in ontario secondary schools: how it is being used and the challenges it presents

Abstract

This article documents observations of pre-service teachers about how both students and teachers are using information technology in 374 secondary classrooms in Ontario, Canada. Also reported are some of the challenges that have resulted since the advent of this technology in these schools. The findings have direct implications for teacher education. Not only must teacher candidates learn how to use and apply this new technology, but they must be made aware of other issues (such as classroom management issues) stemming from the integration of information technology in the classroom. Teacher education programs must remain current: one way of doing this is to investigate ongoing classroom practices and issues. This article helps to identify both     

Reform of teacher education in China: a survey of policies for systemic change

ABSTRACT

This paper adopts an inductive analytical approach to reviewing the major state policies to reform teacher education in China. Based on the perceived impact on teachers and teacher education, 21 policy documents have been selected for this review. Five themes emerge in the analysis, which include: Expansion of teacher education by institutional diversification; structural changes through upgrading, merging and eliminating institutions and school; innovations on modes of teacher preparation, curricula and teaching practicum; certification and examinations; and strengthening teacher supply for the rural schools. The paper also analyses the contextual and systemic factors that affect the formulation and implementation of reform policies in teacher education and critically reflect the effect of these policies on Chinese teacher education.     

Technology in Physical Education Teacher Education: A Call to Action

ABSTRACT

Teacher education programs have been tasked with the responsibility to develop educators who can successfully infuse technology into their teaching. Despite standards-based expectations, a plethora of technology infusion opportunities, and the importance of faculty roles as models and teachers, physical education teacher education (PETE) programs have yet to demonstrate current expectations for teaching with and about educational technology. In this article, the authors provide a glimpse into the educational technology requirements, challenges, and strategies for teacher education/PETE programs. The authors suggest a call to action among PETE programs to address the issues that prevent PETE graduates from entering their teaching careers less than equipped to effectively use technology to enhance teaching and learning.     

Towards a learning society in finland: information and communications technology in teacher education

Abstract

This article describes the recent development of Finland as a learning and information society. Education, training and research have been seen as core factors to accelerate development towards a society where all citizens have a high level of competence in using information and communications technology (ICT) in their lives. A short review is given of the present situation in schools and teacher education and of how governmental strategies have guided the development and use of ICT for a learning society in Finland. The strategies of teacher education departments in universities are then analysed with the main focus on how teachers learn to use ICT as a tool which opens up high-quality learning opportunities for pupils and challenges teachers' growth as professionals. Cases have been selected to describe good examples of teachers' pre-service and in-service education. These draw a picture of how ICT is applied in different fields of teacher education. At the end of the article some trends from the late 1990s to early 2002 will be summarised. These trends are: using ICT more as a mindtool, moving towards more collaboration, interactivity and active learning, more integration of ICT in curricula and a better technical and pedagogical infrastructure.