What does it mean to be a professional in education and in other sectors where education is a focus? How can professional development techniques be implemented in a variety of settings to the best effect? Over the last decade, many shifts in individual professional identity and sector requirements in education have been evident. This book engages with current debates and presents a new model - critical professional development - involving several new concepts which are mapped clearly to practice and covering the necessary techniques and approaches. Key organizational challenges and possibilities in implementation are highlighted. In outlining the new model, the book discusses the theories and perspectives of critical professional development, from educational policy to practice. Case studies from a range of education sectors convey unique and richly textured examples of successful professional practice, providing strong links between teaching and learning and professional development, with approaches that can be widely adopted and applied in different settings. *** The text as a whole is starkly realistic, scholarly, and pragmatic rather than idealistic. As the authors concede, the definition of critical professionalism does not contain any original components; however, it is original in its holistic and practical conceptualization of professionalism in higher education...The theory proposed in this volume has wide applicability, and is worthwhile in the fields of theology and religion." - Reflective Teaching, Wabash Center, June 2015 [Subject: Educational Studies, Professional Development]

Children are already learning at birth, and they develop and learn at a rapid pace in their early years. This provides a critical foundation for lifelong progress, and the adults who provide for the care and the education of young children bear a great responsibility for their health, development, and learning. Despite the fact that they share the same objective - to nurture young children and secure their future success - the various practitioners who contribute to the care and the education of children from birth through age 8 are not acknowledged as a workforce unified by the common knowledge and competencies needed to do their jobs well. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 explores the science of child development, particularly looking at implications for the professionals who work with children. This report examines the current capacities and practices of the workforce, the settings in which they work, the policies and infrastructure that set qualifications and provide professional learning, and the government agencies and other funders who support and oversee these systems. This book then makes recommendations to improve the quality of professional practice and the practice environment for care and education professionals. These detailed recommendations create a blueprint for action that builds on a unifying foundation of child development and early learning, shared knowledge and competencies for care and education professionals, and principles for effective professional learning. Young children thrive and learn best when they have secure, positive relationships with adults who are knowledgeable about how to support their development and learning and are responsive to their individual progress. Transforming the Workforce for Children Birth Through Age 8 offers guidance on system changes to improve the quality of professional practice, specific actions to improve professional learning systems and workforce development, and research to continue to build the knowledge base in ways that will directly advance and inform future actions. The recommendations of this book provide an opportunity to improve the quality of the care and the education that children receive, and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

This volume provides an overview of key contemporary themes in educational leadership. It focuses on developing professional capacity, organisation improvement and the implementation of change, looking at theoretical frameworks and concepts, recent research studies and case examples of effective practice. The book covers: - leading learning and learner leadership - change processes and distributed leadership - leading professional development for educational contexts. Designed to encourage critical analysis and debate, this volume will be a useful resource for postgraduate and professional development courses in educational leadership and for practitioners. It is a companion to Educational Leadership: Context, Strategy and Collaboration, also published by Sage.

Practice-Based Education: Perspectives and Strategies. This book draws on the collective vision, research, scholarship and experience of leading academics in the field of practice-based and professional education. It presents multiple perspectives and critical appraisals on this significant trend in higher education and examines strategies for implementing this challenging and inspiring mode of learning, teaching and curriculum development. Eighteen chapters are presented across three sections of the book: Contesting and Contextualising Practice-Based Education Practice-Based Education Pedagogy and Strategies The Future of Practice-Based Education.

In this re-released classic edition of Critical Incidents in Teaching in print since 1993 and which includes a new introduction from the author - David Tripp shows how teachers can draw on their own classroom experience to develop it.

"This book shows you how to provide professional development for teachers that deepens their cultural understanding and includes activities for translating new knowledge into action. Companion website available"-- Provided by publisher.

Developing an understanding of professional practice is essential for anyone training to teach in the further education and skills sector. This go-to guide will give you a clear understanding of the major topics covered in the mandatory Wider Professional Practice and Development unit of the Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training, and more broadly explores the value of professionalism to all aspects of further education. Key coverage includes: · Understanding learners and attitudes to learning · How to do action research · Professional observation and development · Making sense of education policy · Teacher expectations · Challenges to equality and diversity · The inclusive curriculum These topics are discussed within a wider political and socio-economic context, and are supported by insightful case studies and activities. This is essential for anyone studying the Diploma in Education and Training, and recommended reading for related courses in the further education and skills sector.