The concept of life-long learning has become a frequently used term in political and educational parlance. The final aim of schools has to be the development of the self-directed learner by developing the students' life-long learning competences. To realize this goal schools have to change from institutions that transfer knowledge into learning…

Discusses problems within teacher education in Turkey, focusing on western influences and their consequences in building a relevant teacher education program in Turkey. Data from the literature and from the authors' personal experiences indicated that irrelevance between teacher education programs and the realities of Turkish schools and the…

Discusses Germany's educational system, highlighting demands for more school autonomy. Over a decade ago, there were calls for more school autonomy, but only lately have educators and researchers realized this demand is in line with political discussions on the issue, which are linked to the European context in which educational policies are…

Presents conclusions about school failure in European countries reached by the European Symposium on School Failure. The conclusions focus on the conceptualization of school failure, acceptance of the problem by governments, frequently adopted solutions, more coherent solutions, and implications for teacher education (prerequisites, the…

Describes eight general functions and roles of teacher educators, including facilitator of learning, encourager of reflection, curriculum developer, teacher selector, researcher, stimulator of professional development, team member, and collaborator. Also analyzes the functions and roles of cooperating teachers, which include orientation, personal…

Discusses mentoring within British initial teacher education, exploring factors that motivate mentors, describing mentor self-actualization, and noting the importance of relationships developed during mentoring. Examples of mentoring where mentors and mentees are matched according to personality and professional goals are presented. Suggests that…

Introduces a series of papers on new developments in science and mathematics teacher education in Europe, explaining teacher thinking and conceptual change as related to science and mathematics teacher education. The papers emphasize existing conceptions held by student teachers, preservice courses that include the development of student content…

Provides an analysis of student teachers' lay theories of teaching and teaching identities, assessing their implications for student teachers' and teachers' professional development. Discusses themes that emerged from an analysis of interviews with beginning student teachers (personal identity and teaching archetypes, student teachers' metaphors…

Examines the question of stability and change in student teachers' beliefs, arguing for an embedding of the question of stability and change of teachers'conceptions of learning into a specific epistemological standpoint. Illustrates the embedded relationship through a case analysis that shows how, from a constructive perspective, changes in…

This paper attempts to clarify the field of teacher development by proposing a classification of approaches to teacher development that include the main theoretical models currently cited. The four approaches discussed include cognitive-structural, skill acquisition, reorientation of concerns, and life cycle. (Author/SM)

Examines the ambiguity over the role of headteachers in Spain by evaluating recent legislation, the impact of Franco's legacy on education, and the current preoccupation with democratic government at all levels. The paper highlights important attitude changes toward the role of the headteacher now occurring (mainly at local levels). (Author/SM)

Reviews the role of practical experience within preservice and inservice teacher education programs, noting the increasing importance of practical experience and examining the various forms of university-school partnerships. The paper recommends greater cooperation among European countries in promoting and providing practical experience. (SM)

This is an outline of a paper on practical experience in teacher education. The topics are the function of practicums in the teacher education curriculum; and conditions for developing good practicums (institutional context, perceptions about teaching practice by the agents involved, university instructors and school based mentors, and structure…

This paper describes prevailing models of teacher education programs in Israel and notes differences in their student teaching components. Suggests that the variability is due to different views regarding professional, epistemological, and sociopolitical factors, which result in a variety of teacher education programs, especially practicum…

This paper discusses reasons for the mutual disregard between teacher educators and school teachers, who should be partners in preservice teacher education. Drawing upon research, the paper examines the overall context in which the work of teaching is being conceptualized in contemporary Europe, asking fundamental questions about why the mutual…