Teacher education

Getting ready to start teaching in the classroom, managing student behaviour and meeting with parents can be a daunting prospect for many pre-service teachers. Could technology be part of the solution?

One of the great things about the teaching profession is the sharing of expertise, knowledge, skills and experience that happens regularly in schools and beyond, including through professional associations. Teacher caught up with members of IGI (Ikatan Guru Indonesia – the Indonesian Teacher Association) to talk about the benefits of being a part of these professional communities.

‘A teacher can be effective, efficient, inclusive, and strategic. Still, unless they are professionally kind along with these things, the learners suffer.’ In today’s reader submission, Professor Nan Bahr argues kindness is an essential general trait for all people, but it is also applied expertise for the teacher and should be a professional standard.

Tom Stehlik recently spent some time in Finland. Here, he reflects on the Finnish school structure and culture, teacher education programs and processes.