Teaching - Teacher Training, Psychology of Education, Effective Teaching, Educational Reform

Teacher Learning for Educational Change : A Systems Thinking Approach

Name: Teacher Learning for Educational Change : A Systems Thinking Approach
Author: G. J. Hoban
ISBN: 9780335209538

by G. J. Hoban

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Overview

This book presents a new mindset for teacher learning and educational change. When viewed from a conventional mechanistic paradigm, educational change is a linear step-by-step process that is supported by a simplistic approach to teacher learning. Although this approach often produces disappointing results, rarely is an alternative one proposed. What is new in this book is that educational change and teacher learning are viewed from a paradigm based on complexity theory, assuming that change is a nonlinear process that needs to be supported by a framework for long-term teacher learning. The central question of this book, therefore, is 'What conditions will help to establish a framework for long-term teacher learning to support educational change?' To address this question, a systems thinking approach is used to draw together ideas from existing learning perspectives into a new theoretical framework called a Professional Learning System. This framework is not a formula, but a new mindset to help us understand the nonlinear dynamics of educational change and teacher learning.

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Complexity theory and systems thinking have mainly been used in the disciplines of science, mathematics, and business; Hoban (education, U. of Wollongong, Australia) suggests that these conceptual frameworks are also of great use in thinking about professional long-term teacher learning. He argues that conventional inservice education, based on mechanistic understandings of teacher learning, does not empower teachers to generate their own knowledge. Applying complexity to the design of a professional learning system that will take into account the dynamic relationships that happen in classrooms and across all levels of systems of education. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)