Strategies for Career-Long Teacher Education

This book considers this question: How can schools of education be redesigned to provide continuing education that spans teachers? entire careers? In this, the sixth Teacher Education Yearbook, the authors examine the current standard practice of confining teacher preparation to four years of coursework. They take a close look at the growing interest in career spanning teacher education. The chapter authors and contributors offer research, discussion, and various points of view on how ongoing, sustained professional development can enrich teachers? worklives and increase their students? learning. McIntyre and Byrd examine past, current, and proposed methods of teacher education from different perspectives and viewpoints. They offer the reader insights into how Teachers learn about teaching and learning Teachers develop their own professional education plans and goals Universities and schools collaborate on career-long teacher education through professional development schools Teacher education courses provide (or fail to provide) necessary training This book confirms the importance of several ideas in the concept of teacher education: Ongoing dialog is crucial ? there must be continuous feedback and fine-tuning of teacher education programs. Discussions of case studies can be powerful tools for critical reflection by students. They can learn to identify more easily with others perspectives. Teacher education programs need to "individualize" to increase effectiveness. Students? own beliefs and attitudes greatly affect how they respond to learning to teach. In order to prepare teachers who continue to learn, who stimulate, motivate, and teach their students, schools of education must change. And the chapter authors and respondents in this yearbook offer pragmatic ideas on how to begin this change. For anyone interested in teacher education or ongoing professional development.