This book makes a significant contribution to a hitherto much neglected area. The book brings together a wide range of papers on a scale rarely seen with a geographic spread that enhances our understanding of the complex journey undertaken by those who aspire to become teachers of teachers. The authors, from more than ten countries, use a variety of approaches including narrative/life history, self-study and empirical research to demonstrate the complexity of the transformative search by individuals to establish their professional identity as teacher educators. The book offers fundamental and thoughtful critiques of current policy, practice and examples of established structures specifically supporting the professional development of teacher educators that may well have a wider applicability. Many of the authors are active and leading persons in the international fields of teacher education and of professional development. The book considers: novice teacher educators, issues of transition; identity development including research identity; the facilitation and mentoring of teacher educators; self-study research including collaborative writing, use of stories; professional development within the context of curriculum and structural reform. Becoming a teacher is recognised as a transformative search by individuals for their teaching identities. Becoming a teacher educator often involves a more complex and longer journey but, according to the many travel stories told here, one that can be a deeply satisfying experience. This book was published as a special issue of Professional Development in Education.

The concept of creative learning extends far beyond Arts-based learning or the development of individual creativity. It covers a range of processes and initiatives throughout the world that share common values, systems and practices aimed at making learning more creative. This applies at individual, classroom, or whole school level, always with the aim of fully realising young people's potential. Until now there has been no single text bringing together the significant literature that explores the dimensions of creative learning, despite the work of artists in schools and the development of a cadre of creative teaching and learning specialists. Containing a mixture of newly commissioned chapters, reprints and updated versions of previous publications, this book brings together major theorists and current research. Comprising of key readings in creative education, it will stand as a uniquely authoritative text that will appeal to those involved in initial and continuing teacher education, as well as research academics and policy specialists. Sections include: a general introduction to the field of creative learning arts learning traditions, with sub sections on discrete art forms such as drama and visual art accounts of practice from artist-teacher partnerships whole school change and reforms curriculum change assessment evaluative case studies of impact and effect global studies of policy change around creative learning.

This book presents critical perspectives on teacher professional learning and professional development as interpreted in 14 countries across Europe. Bringing together experts from across Europe, the book fulfils a need for a better understanding of the changing nature of teacher professional learning in national policy contexts and of the cultural differences existing between various systems. It discusses the new thinking that has emerged in the field of teacher education alongside new models that reflect the changing patterns and policies relating to the ways educational professionals maintain and enhance professional practice. The book highlights that new models of teacher leadership and practitioner inquiry have a strong focus on pedagogy and social justice. It also examines briefly the challenges brought about by the Covid pandemic and the ways in which new approaches to professional learning, specifically the use of new technologies, have begun to transform practice in some countries in Europe. The book gives insights into the ways in which professional learning policy is interpreted and applied in practice. It will be highly relevant for researchers and post-graduate students in the fields of teacher professional learning and development, school leadership, comparative education and educational policy and planning.

The concept of creative learning extends far beyond Arts-based learning or the development of individual creativity. It covers a range of processes and initiatives throughout the world that share common values, systems and practices aimed at making learning more creative. This applies at individual, classroom, or whole school level, always with the aim of fully realising young people's potential. Until now there has been no single text bringing together the significant literature that explores the dimensions of creative learning, despite the work of artists in schools and the development of a cadre of creative teaching and learning specialists. Containing a mixture of newly commissioned chapters, reprints and updated versions of previous publications, this book brings together major theorists and current research. Comprising of key readings in creative education, it will stand as a uniquely authoritative text that will appeal to those involved in initial and continuing teacher education, as well as research academics and policy specialists. Sections include: a general introduction to the field of creative learning arts learning traditions, with sub sections on discrete art forms such as drama and visual art accounts of practice from artist-teacher partnerships whole school change and reforms curriculum change assessment evaluative case studies of impact and effect global studies of policy change around creative learning.

This book makes a significant contribution to a hitherto much neglected area. The book brings together a wide range of papers on a scale rarely seen with a geographic spread that enhances our understanding of the complex journey undertaken by those who aspire to become teachers of teachers. The authors, from more than ten countries, use a variety of approaches including narrative/life history, self-study and empirical research to demonstrate the complexity of the transformative search by individuals to establish their professional identity as teacher educators. The book offers fundamental and thoughtful critiques of current policy, practice and examples of established structures specifically supporting the professional development of teacher educators that may well have a wider applicability. Many of the authors are active and leading persons in the international fields of teacher education and of professional development. The book considers: novice teacher educators, issues of transition; identity development including research identity; the facilitation and mentoring of teacher educators; self-study research including collaborative writing, use of stories; professional development within the context of curriculum and structural reform. Becoming a teacher is recognised as a transformative search by individuals for their teaching identities. Becoming a teacher educator often involves a more complex and longer journey but, according to the many travel stories told here, one that can be a deeply satisfying experience. This book was published as a special issue of Professional Development in Education.

English in Urban Classrooms is a ground-breaking text that span a range of issues central to contemporary school English. It extends not only to the spoken and written language of classrooms, but also to other modes of representation and communication that are important in English teaching. This includes image, gesture, gaze, movement, and spatial organisation. The team of experienced and expert authors collectively examine how English is shaped by policy, by institutions, and by the social relations of the classroom. By connecting issues of policy and social context, the book provides a detailed account of factors such as: * the characteristics of urban multi-cultural schools; * teacher formation and tradition; * the ethos of School English departments; * the institutional changes that have shaped school English in urban classrooms and students' experiences of learning. This book offers a fascinating and enlightening read, not only to those involved in English teaching, but also to educational researchers, policy makers, linguists, and those interested in semiotics and multimodality.

As one of Britain's most original thinkers and writers Colin Ward wrote extensively about positive and practical examples from the past and present of the anarchist spirit or the 'social principle' in everyday life. This volume is the first scholarly work dedicated to examining the significance of his distinctive and highly relevant contributions to the areas of education, children and the environment. In each chapter, international contributors from academic and activist backgrounds offer cross-disciplinary and critical perspectives on Ward's work and its relevance to contemporary debates. The book is divided into four key areas: The Sand Box of the City Adventures in Education Reflections on Practice Mobilisations. This book will appeal to academics and professionals interested in the condition of childhood and youth today. It will prove useful for postgraduates and professionals undertaking further professional development, and is relevant to anyone studying, researching or working in fields relating to children, education and the environment not just in the UK but beyond.

Pundits, politicians, and business leaders continually make claims for what standardized tests can do, and those claims go largely unchallenged because they are in line with popular assumptions about what these tests can do, what the scores mean, and the psychology of human motivation. But what most of what these opinion leaders say-and the public believes-about standardized testing just isn't so. However, few members of the general public, not even concerned parents, have the time or the background to keep up with the latest findings of testing experts, psychometricians, and researchers. That's where The Myths of Standardized Tests comes in. In simple, accessible language, Harris, Smith, and Harris spell out the assumptions underlying standardized tests and point out what's true about them and what's just plain mythical. But they not only debunk common assumptions; they propose better ways to judge the success of our schools. They also offer readers suggestions for ways they can help reduce the burden of tests on their children. Appendixes offer readers contact information and suggestions for actions they can take to become part of the solution to the problem of overusing and misusing standardized tests.

For what, to whom, and by what means should schools be held accountable? What are the purposes and goals of schooling in a democratic society? What can serve as a fair system of quality assurance for schools in a world of change and complexity? Democratic School Accountability addresses such concerns by defining and describing an alternate vision for school accountability. Working from a model adapted from the world of business, the contributors depict dimensions for school accountability based on democratic values and local empowerment. The central premise is that schools, districts, and states should together be accountable for student learning, but also for providing opportunities to learn, being responsive to students, parents, and communities, and developing organizational capacity for high performance. The system described in this book is built on high-resolution information gathering, not high-stakes testing. It proposes and shows examples of using local and multiple methods for assessing student learning, cultivating and sustaining the professional knowledge and skills of teachers, engaging the community in meaningful and empowered decision-making, organizing schools for greater performance, and conducting self-studies and external visitations for monitoring and fostering high quality schooling within the local context. This book encourages readers to step out of the box of the current approach to school accountability and to reframe the very concept of accountability so that it may truly serve as a positive force for school improvement and renewal. It is a hopeful expression of what could be.

In this ground breaking text, the authors span a range of issues central to contemporary school English. They collectively examine how English is shaped by policy, by institutions and by the social relations of the classroom. By connecting policy and social context, the book provides a detailed account of factors such as: the characteristics of urban multi-cultural schools teacher formation and tradition the ethos of School English departments the institutional changes that have shaped school English in urban classrooms and students' experiences of learning. The authors examine the spoken and written language of classrooms, alongside other modes of representation and communication and issues such as image, gesture, gaze, movement and spatial organisation are all examined through a timely multi-modal perspective. Those involved with education and the teaching of English will find this book a fascinating account of teaching and learning in urban classrooms, whilst policy shapers, linguists and anyone with an interest in semiotics and multimodality will find much here to enlighten them.

Appropriate for all courses in Tcl/Tk scripting, and many courses in Unix shell scripting.

Practical Programming in Tcl/Tk, Fourth Edition is the definitive guide to Tcl/Tk programming for developers at all levels—including experienced Perl and Python programmers who want to use Tk to build high-quality, cross-platform user interfaces. Thoroughly updated for Tcl/Tk 8.4, this book brings together comprehensive, authoritative coverage of every Tcl and Tk command in the core toolkits, along with detailed examples that demonstrate the best ways to use the Tcl/Tk toolkit. Extensive new Tcl/Tk 8.4 coverage includes: the Tcl/Tk virtual filesystem (VFS); spinbox, panedwindow, labelframe, and other new widgets; and improved internationalization support. The book includes an exceptionally clear introduction to the unique Tcl programming model, as well as practical coverage of cross-platform development for Unix, Windows, and Macintosh; Web application development with the TclHttpd web server; and much more. The accompanying CD-ROM contains all sample code from the book, as well as the latest binary distributions of Tcl/Tk, Tcl extensions, and an extensive collection of Tcl/Tk freeware.

This book provides a critical insight into comparative approaches to the professional learning and development of early years educators - taken to include all those working in a professional capacity with young children in educative settings, including home-based care and education. It also analyses leadership development for the early years workforce, and the evaluation of the success or otherwise of professional development initiatives involving early years educators. The book includes perspectives on relevant policy development at local and national levels and critical consideration of research literature on the effectiveness of professional development programmes for early years educators. The book is essential reading for professionals working in early years settings, for those engaged with the professional learning of early years educators, and for academics researching professionalism in early years education. It provides international perspectives on the professional learning and development of those working in early years education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Professional Development in Education.

This collection focuses on the ways in which policy relating to professional development and professional learning in teacher education is changing across Europe. The chapters examine how policies change with time and with changes in personnel at various levels in the political or professional spectrum. It also highlights the continued diversity of the education systems of Europe, despite moves towards economic and social integration. A common theme running through the chapters is an understanding of the importance of professional development and professional learning of educators in the success and effective operation of the education systems of the countries concerned.

This book was originally published as a special issue of "Professional Development in Education."

As one of Britain's most original thinkers and writers Colin Ward wrote extensively about positive and practical examples from the past and present of the anarchist spirit or the 'social principle' in everyday life. This volume is the first scholarly work dedicated to examining the significance of his distinctive and highly relevant contributions to the areas of education, children and the environment. In each chapter, international contributors from academic and activist backgrounds offer cross-disciplinary and critical perspectives on Ward's work and its relevance to contemporary debates. The book is divided into four key areas: The Sand Box of the City Adventures in Education Reflections on Practice Mobilisations. This book will appeal to academics and professionals interested in the condition of childhood and youth today. It will prove useful for postgraduates and professionals undertaking further professional development, and is relevant to anyone studying, researching or working in fields relating to children, education and the environment not just in the UK but beyond.

This book provides a critical insight into comparative approaches to the professional learning and development of early years educators - taken to include all those working in a professional capacity with young children in educative settings, including home-based care and education. It also analyses leadership development for the early years workforce, and the evaluation of the success or otherwise of professional development initiatives involving early years educators. The book includes perspectives on relevant policy development at local and national levels and critical consideration of research literature on the effectiveness of professional development programmes for early years educators. The book is essential reading for professionals working in early years settings, for those engaged with the professional learning of early years educators, and for academics researching professionalism in early years education. It provides international perspectives on the professional learning and development of those working in early years education. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Professional Development in Education.

Austerity and the Remaking of European Education offers historically and empirically grounded accounts of national educational formations in Europe, at a specific time in their reshaping through encounters with global policy frameworks, and social and economic developments. The authors explore these issues in the context of different pressures that impact on European education systems - from the constraints established by the European Central Bank and the European Commission across Southern Europe, to the 2008 financial crisis and the increased migration. The book provides a rigorous theoretical approach to European and national policies, combined with detailed analyses of national educational contexts in England, France, Greece, Hungary and Sweden. These in-depth studies identify major issues of national education policymaking, and explore the complexities of global/national relationships. The economic crisis, the rise of the Left in Greece and of the populist Right in many countries in Europe, questions of cultural and religious diversity, tensions between marketization and inclusion are all brought into focus, offering findings that are of great interest to researchers of education policy, politics and sociology of education alike. In the final section of the book, the authors explore policy alternatives, as embodied in the activities of both governments and non-state actors, such as trade unions and social movements.