Teacher Educators as Members of an Evolving Profession

Teacher Educators as Members of an Evolving Profession focuses on the overall role of teacher educators who might be seen as leaders involved in the transformation of schools and schooling in a manner appropriate for the requirements of the 21st century. Teacher education is perceived in this book as a profession with unique characteristics. In the frame of this conception this book provides and discusses relevant professional issues: the professional identity of teacher educators, their role perception, and the characteristics of their vocational language. The pedagogy of teacher education is addressed and special attention is given to their professional development. The place of practice in this development process is considered. The contribution of research and academic writing as part of the professional development of teacher educators is emphasized. The book has two parts. The first part, Teacher educators: roles, identities, and discourses, deals with several aspects of being a teacher educator, among them their knowledge base, their professional language and their evolving roles. The second part of the book, The pedagogy of the professional development of teacher educators, provides insights into different modes of enacting processes of professional development of teacher educators.