The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Associate Professor Alan Reid

Dean of Education, University of South Australia

Teacher Education for Changing Times

Abstract

The economic and cultural changes wrought by globalisation and the dominance of neo-liberal market philosophies have reshaped educational policies and practices in many countries. A central part of this reshaping has been overt intervention by governments into teacher education. Ironically, much of the government mandated change in teacher education is based on traditional understandings about the purposes and practices of education which are no longer relevant, and do little more than reproduce the status quo. In this paper I explore the nature of learning and the question of what it means to be an educator in the 21st century. I use this exploration to critique traditional approaches to pre-service teacher education and contemporary policy trajectories in this area. I then suggest some alternatives which might better prepare educators for changing times.

Bionote

Alan Reid is Dean of Education at the University of South Australia. With staff at the University he is currently engaged in a comprehensive review of the teacher education programs offered at the University. His research interests span public education, teachers' work, curriculum and school change and educational policy analysis.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

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Country
Australia