Lily Orland-Barak offers us a breathtaking work of science ?ction. Or perhaps I should say 'science and ?ction. ' The science side of the equation employs sophisticated technique for observing and describing interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics among professionals in education. Both dramatic and seemingly ordinary episodes in the lives of teachers in relational tension with one another are analyzed with scienti?c care, precision, and insight. The scienti?c study of mentoring is like the scienti?c study of soap bubbles - their formation, growth, and sudden exit from the visible world with a nearly soundless 'pop ' Scienti?c and intellectual tools can be used to describe and predict the behavior of soap bubbles, to study their colors, shapes, surface tension, and tiny mass. The same is true of the study of mentoring. But in both cases, the greatest care must be taken to avoid popping the almost m- ically elegant form - to avoid destroying the delicate relationship by rushing in, by heavy attempts at control, or by premature dissection, or even by paying attention too intensely to a private, personal relationship. Mentoring is best studied by being still, by listening with authentic interest, and by using our peripheral vision. The science and the scientist have done their best work here. The ?ction side of this ?ne book gives life to telling examples of mentoring in action.

This edited book is on the theory and practice of teacher education from the most distinguished and experienced scholars in the field around the world. In this book, they explored the most urgent and significant issues in teacher education in this globalized time. The dealing of these issues can directly impact the quality of teacher education and education in general. How to improve the quality of teacher education is a global issue that many countries, no matter developed or developing, face. This book provides multiple perspectives to address the challenges and possibilities for improving teacher quality. A point needs to further highlight in this book is that the researchers pay more attention to the inner landscape of teachers, such as the issue of identity, sense of person, etc. In this book, the readers can learn the insights and multiple perspectives of the best scholars in teacher education.

Science Education: A Global Perspective is 'global' both in content and authorship. Its 17 chapters by an assemblage of seasoned and knowledgeable science educators from many parts of the world seek to bring to the fore current developments in science education and their implications. The book thus covers a wide range of topics in science education from various national and international perspectives. These include the nature of science, science and religion, evolution, curriculum and pedagogy, context-based teaching and learning, science and national development, socially-responsible science education, equitable access for women and girls in science and technology education, and the benefits of science education research. It ends on an optimistic note by looking at science education in 50 years' time with a recommendation, among others, for stakeholders to take the responsibility of preparing children towards a blossoming science education sector in an anticipated future world. This book is suitable for use by discerning researchers, teachers, undergraduate and postgraduate students in science education, and policy makers at all levels of education. Other educationalists and personnel in science and technology vocations will also find it interesting and useful as the reader-motivated approach has guided the presentation of ideas. Science Education: A Global Perspective is a rich compendium of the components of science education in context, practice, and delivery. Dr Bulent Cavas, Professor of Science Education, Dokuz Eylul Univerity, Buca-Izmir, Turkey/President-Elect, International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE) This book will be of immense relevance for current and future global strides in training and research in science education. Surinder K. Ghai, Chairman, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India This book provides a refreshing insight into the current status and future direction of science education. It will be very useful to researchers, those pursuing undergraduate and post-graduate courses in science education, and all other personnel involved in the policy and practice of science education. Dr. Bennoit Sossou, Director/Country Representative, UNESCO Regional Office in Abuja, Nigeria

Teachers' knowledge of the subjects they teach has been of enduring interest to governments, the profession and the wider society. In this book, Viv Ellis traces the development of three beginning teachers thinking about their subject knowledge in the context of Standards-based teacher education and the practice of auditing student teachers' subject knowledge. Ellis puts forward a theory of subject knowledge development that moves on from the objectivist and individualistic epistemologies associated with Standards and the practices of auditing to more a contextualist and sociocultural understanding of teachers' cognition and learning. An important implication of this study is that if teacher education wishes to have greater impact on the development of beginning teachers, teacher educators need to pay greater attention to the schools and subject department settings in which these beginning teachers learn.

Learning strategies for critical thinking are a vital part of today's curriculum as students have few additional opportunities to learn these skills outside of school environments. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for pre-service teachers to learn how to infuse critical thinking skill development in every academic subject to assist future students in developing these skills. The Handbook of Research on Critical Thinking Strategies in Pre-Service Learning Environments is a collection of innovative research on the methods and applications of critical thinking that highlights ways to effectively use critical thinking strategies and implement critical thinking skill development into courses. While highlighting topics including deep learning, metacognition, and discourse analysis, this book is ideally designed for educators, academicians, researchers, and students.

Writing centers are places where writers work with each other in an effort to develop ideas, discover a thesis, overcome procrastination, create an outline, or revise a draft. Ultimately, writing centers help students become more effective writers. Visit any college or university in the United States and chances are there is a writing center available to students, staff, and community members. A Guide to Creating Student-Staffed Writing Centers, Grades 6-12 is a how-to and, ultimately, a why-to book for middle school and high school educators as well as for English/language arts teacher candidates and their methods instructors. Writing centers support students and their busy teachers while emphasizing and supporting writing across the curriculum.

This proposed book will be part of the new international series Educating the Young Child. It will focus on transitions that young children make to early care and education settings, along with the issues that surround this very important time in their lives. The theme is timely and important because children transitions are a universal rite of passage encountered by children worldwide. The diverse experiences, traits, and needs exhibited by young children provide early childhood educators with what may be a potentially challenging role. New experiences, such as the start of formal schooling, mark important and exciting events that also evoke different reactions from both parents and children.

With an international focus, the purpose of this book is to communicate an enlarged view of the currently constraining deficit-based American focus on readiness for the transition to formal school. By broadening this narrow view, the book will appreciate and honor the promise and potential of all children worldwide. The insights shared in this book have the potential to inform both practice and policy.

The book will provide a plethora of practices and strategies for promoting successful transitions for children in a variety of social and cultural contexts. As a resource for teacher education programs, along with in-service early childhood professionals, and university faculty, the book will also provide a theoretical and research background. This edited book will showcase the views of a variety of authors who have demonstrated experience in topics related to transitions in early childhood education. One of these noted authors is Nancy Balaban, who has published two significant works in this area.

As a former kindergarten teacher, I view the book as a resource that will assist educators to promote successful transitions for the students they serve. It has been my experience that student teachers who are placed in early childhood classrooms in the fall semester have an "edge" over those who student teach in the spring semester, due to the many practices that they observe as the transition process unfolds. For those who do not have the opportunity to prepare for teaching in this way, the book will help fill the gap between theory and practice and be a resource for teachers as they support their students transitions to new educational experiences.

To prepare an effectively organized book, a review of literature was conducted on the topic of transition to formal school. As the co-editor, I have also written on this subject and have researched international practices for promoting successful transitions. Authors who have previously published books and articles on this topic were researched and a tentative table of contents was developed based on previous work that was done in this area. The goal for the proposed book is to provide early childhood educators with a resource that is a compilation of research-based strategies and pertinent information that addresses issues related to the transition to formal school experiences, according to noted researchers who have already published in this area. Their expertise will be compiled into this book and address issues that include attachment and separation; meeting the needs of children with exceptionalities; children living in poverty; family relationships; and strategies for promoting successful transitions.

The targeted market for this book will benefit from the information contained in the book because of the universality of the transitions that children experience, yet the diverse needs that exist. When educators are familiar with current, research-based practices for addressing children s transition needs, their students and their families will ultimately benefit. It is essential that early childhood educators are aware of the practices that exist that can help with this very important milestone in their students lives."

Science teacher educators prepare and provide professional development for teachers at all grade levels. They seek to improve conditions in classroom teaching and learning, professional development, and teacher recruitment and retention. Science Teacher Educators as K-12 Teachers: Practicing What We Teach tells the story of sixteen teacher educators who stepped away from their traditional role and entered the classroom to teach children and adolescents in public schools and informal settings. It details the practical and theoretical insights that these members of the Association of Science Teacher Educators (ASTE) earned from experiences ranging from periodic guest teaching to full-time engagement in the teaching role. Science Teacher Educators as K-12 Teachers shows science teacher educators as professionals engaged in reflective analysis of their beliefs about and experiences with teaching children or adolescents science. With their ideas about instruction and learning challenged, these educators became more aware of the circumstances today's teachers face. Their honest accounts reveal that through teaching children and adolescents, teacher educators can also renew themselves and expand their identities as well as their understanding of themselves in the profession and in relation to others. Science Teacher Educators as K-12 Teachers will appeal to all those with an interest in science education, from teacher educators to science teachers, as well as teacher educators in other disciplines. Its narratives and insights may even inspire more teacher educators to envision new opportunities to serve teachers, K-12 learners and the local community through a variety of teaching arrangements in public schools and informal education settings.

This timely new handbook will be an essential read for all college staff who find themselves involved in mentoring trainee teachers in post-compulsory education, either through choice or necessity! Describing all of the expectations, responsibilities and rewards involved in mentoring college teachers in training; the book provides advice and support on:

* What to expect as a mentor and what your mentee expects of you!

* Organizing and conducting observations

* Time management

* Using appropriate language with your mentee

* What to do when things go wrong!

Accessible, practical and supportive, this book will help make mentoring an easier, more enjoyable and ultimately rewarding experience for all new mentors in the post-compulsory workplace. It will also be of great value to both teachers trainers and key staff in colleges, such as staff development managers, who play an important role in overseeing the delivery and quality of mentoring activities.

Why is teacher education policy significant - politically, sociologically and educationally? While the importance of practice in teacher education has long been recognised, the significance of policy has only been fully appreciated more recently. Teacher education in times of change offers a critical examination of teacher education policy in the UK and Ireland over the past three decades, since the first intervention of government in the curriculum. Written by a research group from five countries, it makes international comparisons, and covers broader developments in professional learning, to place these key issues and lessons in a wider context.

This volume brings together the views of academics and researchers from a range of European educational traditions to reflect on the contribution of holism to language learning, drawing on research and practice in various areas of second language acquisition. The volume is divided into four sections which move broadly from theoretical to particular methodological and practical considerations. The individual chapters address and evaluate the following questions: What are the theoretical bases of holistic learning and how can it encompass language teaching? Do approaches to language learning exist which succeed in engaging with language learners as individual, dynamic, complex 'whole' human beings? What reflections are relevant from the different points of view of teacher and learner? What are the pedagogical implications? Can holistic approaches be adopted within schools and universities? How can technology enhance holistic language learning? How can the scope and limits of this concept be delineated?

The school principalship is one of the most demanding and misunderstood jobs in American education. As the person in charge of the daily operation of a particular school, the principal is vested with enormous responsibility for the education of students, the supervision of personnel, and the adherence to numerous laws and policies. This professional reference provides practical information for K-12 principals about how to conduct their jobs in the most effective manner. The practical information in the book is informed by a solid discussion of the history of the principalship and the characteristics of effective schools. The bulk of the volume provides valuable information on the legal and business concerns of the principal, the effective management of personnel, the importance of systems theory to effective planning, and the relationship between the school and the community. Throughout the volume, the authors stress that the principal is a leader and a visionary who empowers, rather than merely a manager who oversees tasks.

This book examines new trends and developments in research related to the mathematical education of pre-service elementary teachers, and explores the implications of these research advances for theory and practice in teacher education. The book is organized around the following four overarching themes: pre-service teachers' mathematics content and mathematics-specific pedagogical preparation; professional growth through activities and assessment tools used in mathematics teacher preparation programs; pre-service mathematics teachers' knowledge and beliefs; and perspectives on noticing in the preparation of elementary mathematics teachers. Including contributions from researchers working in 11 different countries, the book offers a forum for discussing and debating the state of the art regarding the mathematical preparation of pre-service elementary teachers. By presenting and discussing the findings of research conducted in different countries, the book offers also opportunities to readers to learn about varying teacher education practices around the world, such as: innovative practices in advancing or assessing teachers' knowledge and beliefs, similarities and differences in the formal mathematics education of teachers, types of and routes in teacher education, and factors that can influence similarities or differences.

What kinds of curriculum materials do mathematics teachers select and use, and how? This question is complex, in a period of deep evolutions of teaching resources, with the proficiency of online resources in particular. How do teachers learn from these materials, and in which ways do they 'tailor' them for their use and pupil learning? Teachers collect resources, select, transform, share, implement, and revise them. Drawing from the French term " ingenierie documentaire ",we call these processes " documentation ". The literal English translation is " to work with documents ", but the meaning it carries is richer. Documentation refers to the complex and interactive ways that teachers work with resources; in-class and out-of-class, individually, but also collectively.

This book provides an introduction to the philosophy of technology that is accessible to non-philosophers. It offers a survey of the current state-of-affairs in the philosophy of technology and also discusses the relevance of that for teaching about technology. The book includes questions and assignments and offers an extensive annotated bibliography for those who want to read more about the discipline.

Over the past decades a new form of professionalism has emerged, characterized by factors of fluidity, instability and continual change, leading to the necessitation of new forms of professional development that support agile and flexible expansion of professional practice. At the same time, the digitization of work has had a profound effect on professional practice. This digitization opens up opportunities for new forms of professional learning mediated by technologies through networked learning. Networked learning is believed to lead to a more efficient flow of complex knowledge and routine information within the organization, stimulate innovative behaviour, and result in a higher job satisfaction. In this respect, networked learning can be perceived as an important perspective on both professional and organizational development. This volume provides examples of Networked Professional Learning, it questions the impact of this emerging form of learning on the academy, and it interrogates the impact on teachers of the future. It features three sections that explore networked professional learning from different perspectives: questioning what legitimate forms of networked professional learning are across a broad sampling of professions, how new forms of professional learning impact institutions of higher education, and the value creation that Networked Learning offers professionals in broader educational, economic, and social contexts. The book is of interest to researchers in the area of professional and digital learning, higher education managers, organizational HR professionals, policy makers and students of technology enhanced learning.

Self-study research is making an impact on the field of science education. University researchers employ these methods to improve their instruction, develop as instructors, and ultimately, impact their students' learning. This volume provides an introduction to self-study research in science education, followed by manuscripts of self-studies undertaken by university faculty and those becoming university faculty members in science teacher education. Chapter authors range from those new to the field to established researchers, highlighting the value of self-study research in science teacher education for every career rank. The fifteen self-studies provided in this book support and extend this contemporary work in science teacher education. They, and the subsequent reflections on professional knowledge, are organized into four sections: content courses for preservice teachers, elementary methods courses, secondary methods courses, and preparation of future teacher educators. Respondents from various locations around the globe share their reflections on these sections. A culminating reflection of the findings of these studies is provided at the end of the book that provides an overview of what we have learned from these chapters, as well as a reflection on the role of self-study research in the future of science teacher education.

This book systematically explores and reflects on a variety of issues related to collaborative mathematics teacher education practice and research - such as classroom coaching, mentoring or co-learning agreements - highlighting the evolution and implications of collaborative enterprises in different cultural settings. It is relevant to educational researchers, research students and practitioners.

Becoming a Teacher Educator is an impressive book for teacher educators who want to be informed about the latest views and practices of their profession. It is the first book that addresses a range of topics related to the work of teacher educators, the induction of teacher educators and their further professional development.

Becoming a Teacher Educator has a practical focus and it provides theoretical insights, experiences of experts and practical recommendations. The book is rooted in the Association of Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) and many of the chapters are written by authors who are active members of the ATEE. Researchers and practitioners from different parts of Europe, and beyond, joined their efforts to write a book that is truly international and combines research, practice and reflection.

Becoming a Teacher Educator is essential reading for novice teacher educators as well as for experienced teacher educators who want to keep up with the latest insights in their profession. This book provides a guide for those who supervise novice and experienced teacher educators and for various professionals who are responsible for the professional development of teacher educators.

"There is a growing need for evidence-based resources made available to (future) teacher educators. Since a learning society requires new sets of competencies of the main actors, we are most in want of knowledgeable teacher educators that support the professional development of their (student) teachers. This book fits the actual demands." (Dr. Joost Lowyck, Professor Emeritus, former director of the Teacher Education Institute, Leuven University).

"This is an original book in a very important area. The editors define the concept of 'teacher educator' widely and I think, therefore, that the book is relevant for schools, higher education, and education authorities of all kinds. The authorship and theme have wide relevance across Europe, Australasia and North America." (Prof. Bob Moon, Professor in Education Teaching Studies, Department of Education, Open University, UK).

"The book highlights that, while the current global focus is very much on the need to educate "sufficient and highly qualified teachers," little political focus is given to those who "teach the teachers." What makes this book distinctive for all engaged in teacher education, whether experienced or novice, is that it allows the spotlight on those who teach the teachers and the opportunity for teacher educators to discuss, debate and seriously examine themselves as a profession." (Simone White, Deakin University, Australia)

With the national reform and research agendas occurring in teacher education, one of the most important areas needing theoretical analysis and empirical research is assessment and evaluation. New initiatives in the education of teachers and new roles in professional practice demand new means to assess both learning and performance. In recognition of this demand, this book is designed to examine how students can best be selected for and evaluated while in teacher education programs. The book reviews and synthesizes the existing knowledge in teacher education assessment, as well as presents new inquiry to extend and deepen this knowledge.

A comprehensive study of teacher training in Russia, this book focuses on the present while also providing background information on tsarist and Soviet teacher training. The concluding chapter provides a provocative discussion of problems and challenges common to teacher training in Russia and America.

Having lived in Russia for extended periods of time since 1975, the authors base their book not only on scholarly sources but on their first-hand observations and experiences in Russian schools and teacher training institutions, and on questionnaires and interviews with Russian students, parents, teachers, administrators, and teacher educators.

The authors provide a comprehensive study of the lifelong teacher training process in Russia, starting with pedagogical gymnasiums and extending through training in colleges, institutes, universities, and public schools. The book focuses on the present but provides the reader with necessary background information on education of teachers during the tsarist and Soviet periods. Whether discussing teacher education under Alexander II, Stalin, Gorbachev, or Yeltsin, the Longs show the close interrelationship among general, school, and teacher education history. The book concludes with a provocative discussion of problems and challenges common to teacher training in Russia and America. The authors convincingly argue that effective reform of schools in either Russia or the United States must start with reform of teacher training.

This edited text recaptures many of Joe L. Kincheloe's national and international influences. An advocate and a scholar in the social, historical, and philosophical foundations of education, he dedicated his professional life to his vision of critical pedagogy. The authors in this volume found mentorship, as well as kinship, in Joe and express the many ways in which he and his work made profound differences in their work and lives. Joe's research always pushed the limits of what critically reflective and informed teaching entailed, never diluting the import of comprehending the complexity of sociopolitical, cultural, economic, and educational discourses and practices. Dedicated to a praxis of social and political activism rooted in students' development as citizens and workers, the labor of teachers as action researchers, cultural workers, and social mediators is always at the heart of all he achieved. We who were so influenced directly and indirectly by him knew his genius and relished the generosity with which he shared his ideas, advice, encouragement, and art. The world is better because of Joe L. Kincheloe scholarship-inextricably related to "critical" critical thinking and enactment of education that tenaciously interrupts complacency, mediocrity, always responding thoughtfully to particular educational contexts.

This book offers a comprehensive overview of research at interface between History, Philosophy and Sociology of Science (HPSS) and Science Teaching in Ibero-America. It contributes to research on contextualization of science for students, teachers and researchers, and explains how to use different episodes of history of science or different themes of philosophy of science in regular science classes through diverse pedagogical approaches. The chapters in this book discuss a wide range of topics under different methodological, epistemological and didactic approaches, reflecting the richness of research developed in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. The book contains chapters about historical events, topics of philosophy and sociology of science, nature of science, applications of HPSS in the classroom, instructional materials for students and teacher training courses and curriculum.

Advances in knowledge of effective strategies for the treatment of learning and behavioral disabilities are of little use without highly trained and effective personnel to implement these strategies. In this volume, a number of internationally prominent authors discuss a wide range of important issues in the preparation of those personnel. Topics include reflective teaching and collaborative teacher leadership, teacher preparation for behavior management, research on high quality teachers, federal policy and teacher preparation, multimedia components in teacher preparation, cohort programs, teacher quality in high and low poverty school districts, and sense of community in online courses. Additionally, chapters are included that address issues in personnel preparation in specific academic content areas, such as reading, mathematics, science, and social studies. The chapters included in this volume represent a critical component of our understanding of learning and behavioral disabilities, and will be of interest to teachers, administrators, graduate students, researchers, professionals in personnel preparation programs, and individuals interested in public policy.