ABSTRACT This article reports a literature review of self-studies by beginning teacher educators ... more ABSTRACT This article reports a literature review of self-studies by beginning teacher educators examining their experiences of the transition from classroom teaching to teacher educator. The authors conclude that becoming a teacher educator involves several complex and challenging tasks: examining beliefs and values grounded in personal biography, including those associated with being a former schoolteacher; navigating the complex social and institutional contexts in which they work; and developing a personal pedagogy of teacher education that enables construction of a new professional identity as a teacher educator. This research provides beginning teacher educators with a reference point for understanding their personal and professional transition to university-based teacher education. It also provides teacher education faculty and administrators with key information about how the transition from teacher to teacher educator can be supported and enhanced within professional learning communities.
In this paper, two beginning teacher educators discuss their experiences of professional learning... more In this paper, two beginning teacher educators discuss their experiences of professional learning and identity construction during the first years of their work as academics. The authors entered teacher education after working as classroom teachers but, as has been found by others in the literature, were provided with little formal preparation for this career transition. It appears from the literature, and from the authors’ experiences, that there is little research into the professional development processes and needs of teacher educators, and that there is an assumption that competent, experienced school teachers will automatically become proficient teacher educators. In this paper, using a self‐study methodology, the authors explore their experiences of constructing new professional identities as teacher educators. They use the analytical framework of ‘communities of practice’ as articulated by Lave and Wenger. The tensions and dilemmas inherent in being ‘expert’ teachers and ‘novice’ teacher educators are discussed, with particular focus on the complexity of developing professional connections with colleagues in the academic context, and on building new relationships with student‐teachers.
ABSTRACT This article reports a literature review of self-studies by beginning teacher educators ... more ABSTRACT This article reports a literature review of self-studies by beginning teacher educators examining their experiences of the transition from classroom teaching to teacher educator. The authors conclude that becoming a teacher educator involves several complex and challenging tasks: examining beliefs and values grounded in personal biography, including those associated with being a former schoolteacher; navigating the complex social and institutional contexts in which they work; and developing a personal pedagogy of teacher education that enables construction of a new professional identity as a teacher educator. This research provides beginning teacher educators with a reference point for understanding their personal and professional transition to university-based teacher education. It also provides teacher education faculty and administrators with key information about how the transition from teacher to teacher educator can be supported and enhanced within professional learning communities.
In this paper, two beginning teacher educators discuss their experiences of professional learning... more In this paper, two beginning teacher educators discuss their experiences of professional learning and identity construction during the first years of their work as academics. The authors entered teacher education after working as classroom teachers but, as has been found by others in the literature, were provided with little formal preparation for this career transition. It appears from the literature, and from the authors’ experiences, that there is little research into the professional development processes and needs of teacher educators, and that there is an assumption that competent, experienced school teachers will automatically become proficient teacher educators. In this paper, using a self‐study methodology, the authors explore their experiences of constructing new professional identities as teacher educators. They use the analytical framework of ‘communities of practice’ as articulated by Lave and Wenger. The tensions and dilemmas inherent in being ‘expert’ teachers and ‘novice’ teacher educators are discussed, with particular focus on the complexity of developing professional connections with colleagues in the academic context, and on building new relationships with student‐teachers.
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Papers by Judy Williams