Australia Association for Research in Education
Teacher education
Three major concerns with teacher education reforms in Australia
We are deeply concerned about advice the Australian Government has been given on teacher education. We believe it is seriously flawed. The advice has led, and is leading, to major reforms to teacher education throughout Australia. Teacher educators and educational researchers like ourselves would like the public to know what is happening. Significantly we want …
Creativity in Australian schools suppressed by onerous testing regime and crushing teacher restrictions
Once upon a time early childhood teachers used to learn singing and playing the piano, primary school teachers could study electives (and even majors) in areas such as drama and art, and universities could add new courses (such as ones in teacher as entrepreneur or global citizenship) through putting in a course variation form to …
The four challenges Australia faces to improve the digital literacy of new teachers
The digital literacy of pre-service teachers was put in the spotlight recently. A report on the review of …
Understanding educational theory: vital or a waste of time for student teachers?
My student teachers often question the value of educational theory in their initial teacher education. Also often early …
So who wants to teach these days? (Be surprised)
The quality of teachers is a growing focus of educational reform around the world, with new policies attempting …
Australian Professional Standards for Teachers are useful to teacher education students, here’s how
There is a strong critique of the impacts of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers from educational researchers. …
Real-time coaching and how it helps educate new teachers: latest research
Teacher training institutions across Australia are constantly striving to improve the way they educate our future teachers. As …
Positive personal attributes: why teachers need them and how teacher education can help (despite negative media)
Positive personal attributes such as fairness, humour and kindness, I believe, should be considered necessary attributes for a teacher. Currently much of the discussion around ‘quality’ teaching, teacher entry and teacher education is about a suite of high-level competencies and standards. However the nature of teachers’ work and the uniqueness of the education profession should …
Do Australian teachers have poor literacy skills? Let’s look at the evidence
Australians have been sold the idea that our primary school teachers today have poor literacy standards, not only …