The professional developmental needs of higher education-based teacher educators: an international comparative needs analysis

Abstract

A universal lack of attention to the professional learning needs of teacher educators is the driver for this study, which considers the most effective ways to support the professional learning of higher education-based teacher educators. At a time when many industrialised countries are engaged in systemic educational reform, this study provides an international and comparative needs analysis through a survey of 1158 higher education-based teacher educators in the countries participating in the International Forum for Teacher Educator Development: Belgium, Ireland, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK. Our results suggest that while teacher educators are only moderately satisfied with their professional development experiences, a strong desire exists for further professional learning. This desire, influenced by their professional context, relates to their current beliefs concerning ‘best practice’ in teacher education, the academic skills required to further their professional careers and knowledge of the curriculum associated with their fields of expertise.

Keywords:

• Teacher education
• professional development
• professional learning
• comparative education
• teacher educators

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Dr Rachel Sagee of the Mofet Institute in Israel and members of InFo-TED for their advice and guidance in the construction of the survey.