Investigating Teacher Quality Around the World: A Teacher-Education Perspective

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

This symposium sits at the intersection of three related questions: What is “quality” teaching? How can it be defined and measured? How is it a useful teacher-education reform lever? We tackle those questions by bringing together researchers who are each examining teacher quality in their own country. The papers reveal how policy views of teaching are both universal and a unique product of any country’s sociopolitical environment, teacher development systems, and on-the-ground realities of its schools and communities. The papers additionally explore related aspects such as the role of ‘grassroots’ efforts to recapture the definition, the role that research plays in policy enactments of teacher quality, and how countries can use their teacher education systems to promote teacher quality.

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education

Chair

• Brad Olsen, The Brookings Institution

Papers

• How Teaching Quality Is Defined Around the World - Linda Darling-Hammond, Learning Policy Institute

• "Opportunity," "Poverty," and "Teacher Quality" in England - Viv Ellis, Monash University; Sarah Steadman, King's College London

• Teaching Quality in Colombia: An Analysis of 20 Years Awarding a National Best Teacher Prize - Sandra Garcia, Universidad de los Andes; Brad Olsen, The Brookings Institution

• Teacher Evaluation Policy in Arab Israeli Schools Through the Lens of Micropolitics - Nariman Zaher Abu-Rahmoun, The Arab Academic College for Education; Lily Orland-Barak, University of Haifa

• Rethinking Conceptualizations of Teacher Quality in Singapore and Hong Kong: A Comparative Analysis - A. Lin Goodwin, The University of Hong Kong; Ee-Ling Low, National Institute of Education - Nanyang Technological University

Discussant

• Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Boston College