Teacher Development: Knowledge and Context

Description

This book critically examines the concepts of teacher knowledge, the effectiveness of teaching, and the relationships between these and the context in which teachers work and live. Providing an original analysis of empirical evidence from the UK Department for International Development's substantial 20-year language teacher education programme in China this study demonstrates how both the understanding and effectiveness of teaching and teacher education are shaped by cultural contexts and traditions. The author points out the difficulties caused when teacher educators fail to realise this. Qing Gu also reveals the importance of identifying variations in teacher knowledge within single cultures and areas of common ground across cultures, articulating the key findings for sustaining and improving the long term effectiveness of teacher education programmes within the contemporary context of internationalisation.

Qing Gu is Lecturer in the School of Education, University of Nottingham, UK.

"...this is a scholarly addition to thee literature on professional development. Grounded as it is in doctoral research, the claims are well supported by both quantitative and qualitative evidence. The author is able to bring both an insider and outsider perspective to the study as her background spans both Chinese and British cultures. The writing style employs the structural style of a sound doctoral dissertation with clear advance organisers and structural cues for the reader...it will speak to anyone who is involved as either a provider or recipient of professional development across cultural boundaries. As I read it I frequently paused to consider my own experiences as a provider of in-service education in the field of science education in a similar cross-cultural environment." British Educational Research Journal, October 2009 'This book, which is about teacher change in cross-cultural situations, describes and discusses experiences of teachers and teachers of teachers. Fundamentally, the author is optimistic about potential for professional "transformation and reward".' - Teacher Trainer Journal, 2009