Development of Initial Teacher Education

It is important that citizens of today and tomorrow learn to understand and meet the complex challenges which affect our modern lives: the changing global society, the multi-cultural world, and the future of our urban and rural environment.  The world around us is characterised by perpetual change and we must all be equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources to respond to this in a confident and positive manner.  STNE is exploring the balance between existing best practice and innovation to develop a new model of teacher education that will better equip teachers to embrace these forces of change.

The initial teacher education programme at the University of Aberdeen is being re-structured to create a six-year continuum of supported teacher development through the four-year degree programme and into the first two years of practice in schools.  The six-year model framework is as follows:

A re-structuring of teacher education requires genuine collaboration between all providers and recipients.  A continuum of support is being developed jointly by the university and local authorities with consideration of the needs of all those involved.  An investigative approach to learning and teaching is being adopted throughout to provide evidence of how developments augment current practice.

What does this mean for the Teaching Profession?

Scottish Teachers for a New Era is a unique opportunity for all those involved in the education and support of teachers to work together to exchange ideas about learning and teaching, to develop and share research and to investigate what teachers need to know and be able to do in order to renew the profession.  It is the responsibility of all teachers to ensure that the teaching profession continues to develop in line with local and global change.  Practically, involvement may take the form of engaging in course development, researching a particular area of interest, participating in a focus group to share advice and opinions, piloting a specific idea, engaging in continuing professional development sessions or sending suggestions of issues you feel should be explored by the initiative.