This book addresses two main questions, namely how to prepare high-quality teachers in the 21st century and how the East and the West can learn from each other. It addresses the different challenges and dilemmas that eastern countries, especially China, and western countries are facing with regard to teacher education. We explore the question by examining teacher education research, practice and policy in different countries, identifying both common problems and country-specific challenges. We then try to find valuable experiences, theories and practice which can solve specific problems in the process of teacher education, also addressing how local and global factors impact it. In this regard, our approach does not strictly separate pre-service teacher education from teachers’ in-service professional development, adopting an integrative perspective. Further, we believe the respective social and cultural contexts must also be taken into account. Lastly, we call for teachers’ knowledge and individual character traits to be accounted for in the education of high-quality teachers.

"We are excited to offer you the fourth edition of Exceptional Students: Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century. The field of education has evolved into one that requires collaboration among families, communities, and schools. Within schools, special and general educators must collaborate to be effective and efficient in teaching and responding to the demands of new standards, statewide assessments, and calls for education reform. In this fourth edition of Exceptional Students: Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century, we have refined and updated our content to reflect the role of the special educator while continuing to address the role of the general educator in serving special populations. The fourth edition includes updated references and photographs, changes to the content emphases and discussions to reflect current thought and practice, and additions/ deletions of tables and figures to also reflect current thought. The following section, New Additions to the fourth Edition, outlines more specifics. We would like to stress that this text includes information from DSM-5, the latest from the AAIDD, and other important publications and references that define and influence the field of special education. We are grateful to the instructors and students who have given us their feedback on the text. Their classroom experiences inspired suggested refinements that we incorporated throughout the third edition"--

Exceptional Students: Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century provides balanced coverage of the foundations of exceptionalities future teachers need to know to understand their students and responsibilities. The second edition has been updated to reflect the role of the special educator, while continuing to address the role of the general educator in serving special populations.

Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning answers an urgent call for teachers who educate children from diverse backgrounds to meet the demands of a changing world. In today’s knowledge economy, teachers must prioritize problem-solving ability, adaptability, critical thinking, and the development of interpersonal and collaborative skills over rote memorization and the passive transmission of knowledge. Authors Linda Darling-Hammond and Jeannie Oakes and their colleagues examine what this means for teacher preparation and showcase the work of programs that are educating for deeper learning, equity, and social justice. Guided by the growing knowledge base in the science of learning and development, the book examines teacher preparation programs at Alverno College, Bank Street College of Education, High Tech High’s Intern Program, Montclair State University, San Francisco Teacher Residency, Trinity University, and University of Colorado Denver. These seven programs share a common understanding of how people learn that shape similar innovative practices. With vivid examples of teaching for deeper learning in coursework and classrooms; interviews with faculty, school partners, and novice teachers; surveys of teacher candidates and graduates; and analyses of curriculum and practices, Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning depicts transformative forms of teaching and teacher preparation that honor and expand all students’ abilities, knowledges, and experiences, and reaffirm the promise of educating for a better world.

Nations around the world are undertaking wide-ranging reforms to better prepare children for the higher educational demands of life and work in the 21st century. What are the skills that young people will need in a rapidly changing society, and what competencies do teachers need to effectively teach those skills? What can teacher preparation and continuing professional development do to prepare graduates to teach well in tomorrow's classroom? What are the different roles and responsibilities of upcoming school leaders, and how do countries succeed in developing these leaders? To help governments effectively address these and other key issues, the U.S. Department of Education, the OECD, and Education International brought education ministers, union leaders, and other teacher leaders together in the second International Summit on the Teaching Profession in March 2012. This publication summarizes the evidence that underpinned the summit and highlights its conclusions.

The current trend of learner centeredness in education has been challenging many of the current ways of working, especially in higher education institutions. This rapid change in educational institutions demands educators acquire new sets of skills via continuous reflective practices. Hence, educators in higher education institutions are actively involved in research-driven teaching and learning practices. This change of role from mere content delivery to learning facilitators could be better achieved through a strong research-driven community of practice. Preparing 21st Century Teachers for Teach Less, Learn More (TLLM) Pedagogies is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the application of practice-based learning techniques in higher education institutions. This publication establishes a platform for academics to share their best practices to promote teach less, learn more pedagogies and learn reciprocally from the community of practice. While highlighting topics such as interactive learning, experiential technology, and logical thinking skills, this book is ideally designed for teachers, instructional designers, higher education faculty, deans, researchers, professionals, universities, academicians, and students seeking current research on transformative learning and future teaching practices.

As educational standards continue to transform, it has become essential for educators to receive the support and training necessary to effectively instruct their students and meet societal expectations. To do this, fostering education programs that include innovative practices and initiatives is imperative. Preparing the Next Generation of Teachers for 21st Century Education provides emerging research on innovative practices in learning and teaching within the modern era. While highlighting topics such as blended learning, course development, and transformation practices, readers will learn about progressive methods and applications of 21st-century education. This book is an important resource for educators, academicians, professionals, graduate-level students, and researchers seeking current research on contemporary learning and teaching practices.