Most would agree that a learning community of practice cultivates social and intellectual development in educational settings but what are the other benefits and what does a learning community actually look like in practice? This book explores such questions as: "Are learning communities essential in education?" "How are they designed and developed?" "What difference do they make in learning?" The book contains contributions of educators who share their research and practice in designing and implementing learning communities in school, university, and professional network settings. It presents their experiences, and the "how to" of these educators who are passionate about building and sustaining learning communities to make a real difference for students, teachers, faculty, and communities. Combining scholarly and practitioner research, the book offers practical information to teachers, school and university administrators, teacher educators, and community educators.

Inspiration and Innovation in Teaching and Teacher Education is an edited collection that offers a variety of conceptual and research-based discussions on teaching and teacher education in Canada and internationally. The ideas, research, and practices presented in the book focus on three broad themes: the essence of teacher education, innovative practices in teacher education, and emerging issues in teacher education. The book includes chapter contributions from a group of international scholars, teacher educators, and teachers who are adopting innovation in how they are conceptualizing teaching and teacher education and in how they are engaging in the practices of teaching and teacher education. The contributions examine emerging issues that have far-reaching implications for what we do in teacher education, elucidating the successes, opportunities, and challenges inherent in teacher education. The contributors to this book are inspiring others to examine their own beliefs and practices about what constitutes effective teacher education.

Good teacher education not only enhances the understanding and skills of new teachers, but increases the likelihood of them staying in the profession. In Priorities in Teacher Education, Clare Kosnik and Clive Beck argue that teacher preparation should be given sharper focus, identifying seven priority areas:

• program planning
• pupil assessment
• classroom organization and community
• inclusive education
• subject content and pedagogy
• professional identity
• a vision for teaching

Long-time teacher education instructors and researchers themselves, the authors identified these priorities through literature-based research and the findings of a three-year study following twenty-two graduates through their first years of teaching. Packed with examples and quotes about these experiences, the book is broken down into seven chapters, each focusing on one of the seven priorities and containing a case study of one teacher whose experiences embody the priority being discussed.

As the chapters progress, the authors increasingly demonstrate the interplay between the seven priorities, showing that none of them can be pursued in isolation, and building a comprehensive base of essential knowledge for beginning teachers.

Teacher educators will find Priorities in Teacher Education a key guide to pre-service preparation, while new and student teachers will benefit enormously from reading the front line accounts of their contemporaries.

The challenges teacher educators are now facing are of a different nature from those of the past few decades. They have taken on an urgency and a magnitude not witnessed before. Strict government control of education is increasing, the social problems in the schools are more severe, the budget restrictions we face in the university are greater, and the public disillusionment with education, in general, is more than just a passing malaise. This period will be crucial to the future of teacher education; we need to rally together to examine our practice, renew our programs accordingly, collaborate with others, and offer examples of programs that do make a difference.This volume describes the systematic efforts of committed and creative teacher educators to improve their teacher education programs. It describes the accomplishments of individuals (and in part the programs in which they work) who have overcome many of the hurdles teacher educators typically face.

Designed to help student teachers develop an approach to teaching that is both theoretical and practical, this text focuses on key aspects of teaching rather than trying to "cover the waterfront." Based on extensive research on teachers? views, their own long experience as teacher educators, and other sources, the authors recommend 7 priorities for teaching and teacher education:

• program planning
• pupil assessment
• classroom organization and community
• inclusive education
• subject content and pedagogy
• professional identity
• a vision for teaching

Each chapter deals in turn with one of these priorities, using a common format. Activities throughout help readers understand what the priority means in both theory and practice.

This text is a companion to the authors? 2009 book for teacher educators, Priorities in Teacher Education: The 7 Key Elements of Pre-Service Preparation. By making these 7 priorities and related knowledge explicit, it helps student teachers to acquire essential knowledge and skills, to understand the teaching/learning process more fully, and above all to be as prepared as possible for the demanding work of teaching.

Designed to help student teachers develop an approach to teaching that is both theoretical and practical, this text focuses on key aspects of teaching rather than trying to "cover the waterfront." Based on extensive research on teachers views, their own long experience as teacher educators, and other sources, the authors recommend 7 priorities for teaching and teacher education:

• program planning
• pupil assessment
• classroom organization and community
• inclusive education
• subject content and pedagogy
• professional identity
• a vision for teaching

Each chapter deals in turn with one of these priorities, using a common format. Activities throughout help readers understand what the priority means in both theory and practice.

This text is a companion to the authors 2009 book for teacher educators, Priorities in Teacher Education: The 7 Key Elements of Pre-Service Preparation. By making these 7 priorities and related knowledge explicit, it helps student teachers to acquire essential knowledge and skills, to understand the teaching/learning process more fully, and above all to be as prepared as possible for the demanding work of teaching.

Inspiration and Innovation in Teaching and Teacher Education is an edited collection that offers a variety of conceptual and research-based discussions on teaching and teacher education in Canada and internationally. The ideas, research, and practices presented in the book focus on three broad themes: the essence of teacher education, innovative practices in teacher education, and emerging issues in teacher education. The book includes chapter contributions from a group of international scholars, teacher educators, and teachers who are adopting innovation in how they are conceptualizing teaching and teacher education and in how they are engaging in the practices of teaching and teacher education. The contributions examine emerging issues that have far-reaching implications for what we do in teacher education, elucidating the successes, opportunities, and challenges inherent in teacher education. The contributors to this book are inspiring others to examine their own beliefs and practices about what constitutes effective teacher education.

As technology becomes more widespread and the world continues to change in many other ways, teachers have adapted to allow education to evolve with the 21st century. This book provides theoretical foundations and highly practical strategies for classrooms tackling modern challenges, drawing in part on the ideas and experiences of practising teachers. The authors highlight how crucial education is for equipping future generations with the skills for individual, societal and planetary wellbeing, while still considering the pressures of 'teaching to the test'. Every teacher balances a range of priorities as they enter a classroom which this book addresses: *Teaching for personal development, including autonomy, resilience, critical thinking, mental health and overall wellbeing *Teaching for social development, for the workplace but also for community participation and social life generally *Teaching for equity, inclusion and political and global/environmental commitment *Teaching for digital knowledge and skill, in ways that are technologically advanced and substantively relevant *Enhanced teacher identity, professionalism and wellbeing The book will be an essential companion for teachers, particularly those at the start of their training and in preservice roles, with plenty of practical suggestions and strategies. "Classroom Teaching in the 21st Century is a gift to school leaders and teachers who are looking for sound advice to improve teaching and learning." Pak Tee NG, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore "If you are looking for fresh ideas about teaching for meaning and well-being, as well as for competence and content, look no further." A. Lin Goodwin, Dean, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong "This is an important new book which will make a substantial contribution to the literature on education and schooling." Keith F Punch, Emeritus Professor, Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, Australia Clive Beck is Emeritus Professor in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at OISE/University of Toronto, Canada, teaching courses for preservice and in-service teachers and engaging in empirical research on teaching. He is a past-Coordinator of Graduate Studies at OISE and past-President of the American Philosophy of Education Society. Clare Kosnik is Professor in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at OISE/University of Toronto, Canada, past-Director of Elementary Teacher Education at OISE and past-Director of the Jackman Institute of Child Study. She has researched extensively on teaching and teacher education, and has received University-wide Awards for Excellence in both teaching and graduate supervision.

Most would agree that a learning community of practice cultivates social and intellectual development in educational settings but what are the other benefits and what does a learning community actually look like in practice? This book explores such questions as: "Are learning communities essential in education?" "How are they designed and developed?" "What difference do they make in learning?" The book contains contributions of educators who share their research and practice in designing and implementing learning communities in school, university, and professional network settings. It presents their experiences, and the "how to" of these educators who are passionate about building and sustaining learning communities to make a real difference for students, teachers, faculty, and communities. Combining scholarly and practitioner research, the book offers practical information to teachers, school and university administrators, teacher educators, and community educators.

The challenges teacher educators are now facing are of a different nature from those of the past few decades. They have taken on an urgency and a magnitude not witnessed before. Strict government control of education is increasing, the social problems in the schools are more severe, the budget restrictions we face in the university are greater, and the public disillusionment with education, in general, is more than just a passing malaise. This period will be crucial to the future of teacher education; we need to rally together to examine our practice, renew our programs accordingly, collaborate with others, and offer examples of programs that do make a difference.

Making a difference in Teacher Education through Self-Study: Studies of Personal, Professional, and Program Renewal describes the systematic efforts of committed and creative teacher educators to improve their teacher education programs. It describes the accomplishments of individuals (and in part the programs in which they work) who have overcome many of the hurdles teacher educators typically face. These individuals have made a difference in the lives of their students, their colleagues, and many classroom teachers. The book presents research on 15 different teacher education programs and describes individual renewal efforts. The stories -- including both the successes and challenges -- are inspiring and informative. In this age of accountability these teacher educators have used a range of research methods to gather data on their work and in turn used it to guide future decisions. The text includes examples of both large scale research and individual efforts. The common thread among the authors is a commitment to "walking the talk."

Good teacher education not only enhances the understanding and skills of new teachers, but increases the likelihood of them staying in the profession. In Priorities in Teacher Education, Clare Kosnik and Clive Beck argue that teacher preparation should be given sharper focus, identifying seven priority areas:

• program planning
• pupil assessment
• classroom organization and community
• inclusive education
• subject content and pedagogy
• professional identity
• a vision for teaching

Long-time teacher education instructors and researchers themselves, the authors identified these priorities through literature-based research and the findings of a three-year study following twenty-two graduates through their first years of teaching. Packed with examples and quotes about these experiences, the book is broken down into seven chapters, each focusing on one of the seven priorities and containing a case study of one teacher whose experiences embody the priority being discussed.

As the chapters progress, the authors increasingly demonstrate the interplay between the seven priorities, showing that none of them can be pursued in isolation, and building a comprehensive base of essential knowledge for beginning teachers.

Teacher educators will find Priorities in Teacher Education a key guide to pre-service preparation, while new and student teachers will benefit enormously from reading the front line accounts of their contemporaries.