ISATT 2013 Conference
16th Biennal Conference on Teachers and Teaching
Excellence of teachers?
Practice, policy, research
The quality of teachers and teacher education is at the forefront of policy and practice related discussions. Decision makers consider "Excellence" in teaching and teacher education as a critical characteristic. At the same time, they put forward new requirements, new competency frameworks, assessment criteria, quality indicators, … they require to be met. But do we need standards for excellence? Where does the urge for excellence in actual educational policy come from, what logic or agenda does it speak for and what are the consequences for how teachers/teacher educators are supposed to think about themselves?
Regulation is a commonly found concept in the fora about teacher quality and teacher education. The question is whether teachers and teacher educators have a "grounded" answer to these changing circumstances? Can we build on an evidence-base about our teacher quality, about the excellence in teacher educators, about the "quality" of our teacher education programs? Can we counter the debate about regulation of the teaching profession with ways that build on self-regulation?
"Excellence of teachers?" as the central theme of the ISATT 2013 conference builds on urgent issues that address practitioners, teacher educators and researchers. In these discussions policy makers can become a partner when we have consistent answers and pathways available. This implies that the teacher and teacher education community should address at least the question about "excellence" themselves.
Regulation is a commonly found concept in the fora about teacher quality and teacher education. The question is whether teachers and teacher educators have a "grounded" answer to these changing circumstances? Can we build on an evidence-base about our teacher quality, about the excellence in teacher educators, about the "quality" of our teacher education programs? Can we counter the debate about regulation of the teaching profession with ways that build on self-regulation?
"Excellence of teachers?" as the central theme of the ISATT 2013 conference builds on urgent issues that address practitioners, teacher educators and researchers. In these discussions policy makers can become a partner when we have consistent answers and pathways available. This implies that the teacher and teacher education community should address at least the question about "excellence" themselves.
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