RDC 18 Professional development of Teacher Educators (PDTE)
Introduction
The association of teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) consists of several working groups or Research and development groups (RDC). RDC ‘Professional development of teacher educators’ (PDTE) was raised in 2004 during the conference in Agrigento, Sicily. It is now a flourishing RDC with several projects.
Mission statement
The members of RDC ‘Professional development of teacher educators’ have the following goals:
The ultimate aim of the RDC is to improve the professional development of teacher educators and to strengthen the position of teacher educators. To contribute to this aim we want to exchange and develop information about professional development of teacher educators during the annual conference by presenting papers, organizing discussions, organizing workshops etcetera. We also want to produce and distribute knowledge about professional development of teacher educators by engaging in joint studies and activities.
Project: Experiences of Beginning Teacher Educators
During the conference in 2004 in Agrigento we agreed to undertake joint activity. The theme of the activity is ‘Induction of beginning teacher educators’. A small group will prepare an interview and each member of the group will interview one beginning teacher educator. The results of his activity will be presented during the ATEE conference at Amsterdam in 2005.
Project: Standards of Teacher Educators
The RDC Professional Development of Teacher Educators will work in 2006, so is decided in Amsterdam in October, on two themes: 1. Induction of beginning teacher educators and 2. Standards of teacher educators. Here we report on the discussion and plans around the second theme of the RDC.
Discussions on this theme within the RDC made clear that the connotation of the word (professional) standard is different (and sometimes very negative) in different countries. That means that we have to look for another word than standards in the international / European debate.
Project: Book ‘Beginning Teacher Educators’ (BTE)
During the ATEE 2005 we decided to write a book for beginning teacher educators. Each chapter is written by a group of authors from RDC’s of the ATEE and from outside ATEE. The authors come from different regions of Europe. There are 15 chapters on all kinds of subjects that might be of interest of beginning teacher educators, and may be for the more mature teacher educator as well. See for more information ‘The Book’ on the left side.
The editors of the book BTE are Marcel van der Klink and Anja Swennen
Chairs
Anja Swennen
CETAR
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands
Tel: +31 (20) 598 9217
a.swennen@ond.vu.nl
Marcel van der Klink
Ruud de Moor Centrum
Open Universiteit Nederland
PO box 2960
6401 DL Heerlen
Netherlands
+31 (45) 5762865
marcel.vanderklink@ou.nl
