There is nothing more baffling than the art of teaching. Day in and day out, teachers move through classrooms and courses, lectures and discussion groups. What have students seen teachers do that has made a difference for them? What pedagogical behaviors, values, and attributes earn teachers praise from the population they work so hard to serve?…

While developing critical literacy in our students is a priority for all of us, Wilhelm believes that we must develop a critical literacy of teaching, as well. He asserts that this can best be achieved by 1) teaching through an inquiry context, and 2) taking on a teacher-researcher stance to think both reflectively and reflexively about our…

In this commentary on the paper by the Bank Street Reading and Literacy Alumnae Group, Korthagen states that, while it provides an excellent example of how fruitful professional development can be when it is grounded in the needs and strengths of the people involved; regretfully, many traditional approaches to professional development are based on…

In this article I explore one day in the life of a primary classroom in which teacher and children are "playful social" insiders in digital worlds. I argue that this snapshot offers glimmers of unimagined ways forward in teaching in digital worlds. The classroom culture is one of challenge, collective intelligence and reflection. The teacher's own…

This study describes how one teacher educator used metaphor as a self-study tool over an eight-year period. Several methods of eliciting metaphors are discussed and the effects of multiple metaphors on the educator's perspectives on practice are highlighted. The interplay among the metaphors and their meaning is described and used to provide…

In this article, the author discusses the importance of incorporating more methods that promote reflection-in-action--or reflecting on the immediate thoughts and reactions that a person has while performing an act, the time "during which one can still make a difference to the situation at hand"--into response situations. Reflection is something…

This report describes a problem based learning project focusing on superintendents' knowledge of the characteristics of high quality teachers. Current research findings offer evidence teacher quality is an important school variable related to student achievement. School district leaders are faced with the problem of identifying the characteristics…

As two teacher educators teaching two sections of a master's action research capstone course, we analyze (1) course content and pedagogy, (2) evolving beliefs about research, and (3) transformations in question posing as students assume the role of researchers. Our theoretical frame draws on teacher research, social justice advocacy, and the…

Blending activity theory and community-based research educational applications describes the praxis achieved through the initial design, development, implementation, and assessment of one research methods course as a pedagogy to enhance and improve the outcomes of civic and community engagement for the university, its students, and the community.…

Learning to consider the experiences and perspectives of those who are marginalized is difficult for members of a dominant group who have not encountered similar obstacles. According to the National Center for Education Information, student populations continue to be characterized by diversity while more than 90% of teachers are mostly white,…

Drawing upon our experience as university faculty in teaching novice educators, we explore the issue of resistance from students around learning that entails critical reflection. By novice educators, we refer to pre-service teacher candidates and graduate students in Education faculties, particularly graduate students in adult education/lifelong…

This study investigated the potential of a professional development program centered on case development to help urban teachers: (a) integrate technology with content and pedagogy and (b) cultivate habits of reflection required to learn from practice. Qualitative analysis revealed that case development helped teachers develop an understanding of…

This study examined how multiple measures can be used to study experienced teachers' learning. The study was conducted in an advanced Master's degree programme, aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the United States. The programmatic features and key learning experiences found in the programme are described and…

This essay addresses the search for a more comprehensive and reflective method through which to analyze the efficacy of my teaching approach in a graduate level social justice in education class. I explored tenets of scholarship in teaching and learning as a basis for developing a more coherent and organic assessment approach, with the goal of…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to discover the key reflective teaching strategies used by faculty in NCATE-accredited universities. Methodology: Fifteen participants were selected from universities across the United States, who met the study criteria of having taught in higher education for at least 3 years, are currently faculty in an…