Mapping the Field of Teacher Education Research: Methodology and Issues in a Research Capacity Building Initiative in Teacher Education in the United Kingdom
Free accessResearch articleFirst published online December, 2008
Mapping the Field of Teacher Education Research: Methodology and Issues in a Research Capacity Building Initiative in Teacher Education in the United Kingdom
This article discusses the first stages of the work of the Teacher Education Group (TEG) in building research capacity in teacher education research and identifies the potential of the model adopted for future European initiatives in the field. The TEG work is part of the second phase of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP), based on an embedded social practices model of research capacity building. The article opens by outlining the broad context of research capacity building initiatives and identifying general factors which create concerns about the sustainability of teacher education research in the United Kingdom. It then describes the initial impetus, within the TEG, for the creation of an up-to-date annotated mapping of current research in teacher education and outlines the practices used to generate the model used for the mapping. In conclusion, the article discusses some of the methodological, ethical and epistemological issues raised by the mapping exercise and the challenges ahead in disseminating and embedding the initiative.
References
1.
BarnettR. (2003) Beyond All Reason: Living with ideology in the university. Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.
2.
BaronS. (2005) TLRP's Phase 2 Research Capacities Building Strategy, Research Intelligence, 93, 14–17.
3.
BasseyM. (2004) Analysis of the Research Assessment Exercise: Assessment Unit 18 (Education), Research Intelligence, 16(1).
4.
BastianesT.BoonJ. & MartensR. (2004) Evaluating Integrated E-learning, in JochemsW.van MerrienboerJ. & KoperR. (Eds) Integrated E-learning: Implications for pedagogy, technology and organization, 187–198. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
5.
BrisardE.MenterI. & SmithI. (2005) Models of Partnership in Programmes of Initial Teacher Education. General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) Research Publication No. 2. Edinburgh: GTCS Research.
6.
CampbellA.HextallI.HulmeM.JonesM.MahonyP.MenterI.MurrayJ.ProcterR. & WallK. (2008) Developing, Disseminating and Evaluating a Research Capacity Building Initiative in Teacher Education. Paper presented at British Educational Research Association, Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 3–6 September.
7.
CleggS. (2005) Academic Identities under Threat? Paper presented at British Educational Research Association, University of Glamorgan, 14–17 September.
Cochrane-SmithM. & LytleS. (1993) Inside-Outside: Teacher research and knowledge. New York: Teachers College Press.
10.
Cochran-SmithM. & ZeichnerK. (Eds) (2006) Studying Teacher Education: The report of the AERA Panel on Research and Teacher Education. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association & Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
11.
CordingleyP.BellM.RundellB.EvansD. & CurtisA. (2003) The Impact of Collaborative CPD on Classroom Teaching and Learning: How does collaborative continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers of the 5–16 age range affect teaching and learning? London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.
12.
CoveM.InesonG.MahonyP.MenterI.MurrayJ. & QuinlanA. (2006) Supporting the Development of New Researchers in Teacher Education. Refereed Symposium at the British Educational Research Association, University of Warwick, 6–9 September.
13.
DaddsM. & KynchC. (2003) The Impact of the RAE 3b Rating on Educational Research in Teacher Education Departments, Research Intelligence, 84.
14.
DavidM. & SuttonC.D. (2004) Social Research: The basics. London: Sage.
DenscombeM. (2005) The Good Research Guide: For small-scale social research projects. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
19.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (2005) Demographic Review of the UK Social Sciences. Swindon: ESRC.
20.
EricksonG.DarlingFarr L. & ClarkeA. (2005) Constructing and Sustaining Communities of Enquiry in Teacher Education, in HobanG. (Ed.) The Missing Links of Teacher Education Design: Developing a multi-linked conceptual framework. Dordrecht: Springer.
21.
ArremanErixon I. (2008) The Process of Finding a Shape: Stabilizing new research structures in Swedish teacher education, 2000–2007, European Educational Research Journal, 7(2), 157–175. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.2304/eerj.2008.7.2.157
22.
FisherT.HigginsC. & LovelessA. (2006) Teachers Learning with Digital Technologies: A review of research and projects. Bristol: National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) Futurelab.
23.
FurlongJ. (2006) Review of Initial Teacher Training in Wales. Cardiff: Wales Assembly Government.
24.
FurlongJ.BartonL.MilesS.WhitingC. & WhittyG. (2000) Teacher Education in Transition. Buckingham: Open University Press.
25.
FurlongJ. & OanceaA. (2005) Assessing Quality in Applied and Practice-based Educational Research: A framework. Oxford: Oxford University Department of Educational Studies.
26.
FurlongJ. & OanceaA. (2006) Assessing Quality in Applied and Practice-based Research in Education: A framework for discussion, Review of Australian Research in Education, 6, 89–104.
27.
GogolinI. (2007) International Commentary on Improving Educational Research: TLRP's projects and themes. German Perspective: Lessons we can learn, British Educational Research Journal, 33(5), 790–793. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1080/01411920701592222
28.
HakimC. (2000) Research Design: Successful designs for social and economic research. London: Routledge.
29.
HargreavesD.H. (1996) Teaching as a Research-based Profession: Possibilities and prospects. Teacher Training Agency Annual Lecture, Teacher Training Agency, London, April.
30.
HartC. (1998) Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage.
31.
HartshornB.HextallI.HowellI.MenterI. & SmythG. (2005) Widening Access to the Teaching Profession. Systematic Literature Review commissioned by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). Edinburgh: GTCS.
32.
HextallI.HulmeM. & ProctorR. (in preparation) Challenges in Devising an Electronic Database as a Pedagogical Resource.
33.
HulmeM. & MenterI. (2008) Learning to Teach in Post-devolution UK: A technical or an ethical process?South African Review of Education, 14(1/2), 43–64.
34.
KirkG. (2003) Teacher Education Institutions, in BryceT. & HumesW. (Eds) Scottish Education: Post-devolution, 2nd edn.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
35.
LunenbergM.PonteP. & van de VenP.-H. (2007) Why Shouldn't Teachers and Teacher Educators Conduct Research on their Own Practices? An Epistemological Exploration, European Educational Research Journal, 6(1), 13–24. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.2304/eerj.2007.6.1.13
36.
MahonyP. & MenterI. (2007) TLRP On-Line Research Capacity Building Resources Initiative. A request for support from British Educational Research Association (BERA) Council Meeting. Internal memorandum. Presented at BERA Council Meeting, 14 November.
37.
MahonyP. & MurrayJ. (in preparation) On Learning from the Research Successful: Agency, identities and institutions in teacher education research.
38.
MenterI.BrisardE. & SmithI. (2006) Convergence or Divergence? Initial Teacher Education in Scotland and England. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.
39.
MorleyL. (2003) Quality and Power in Higher Education. Maidenhead: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.
40.
MortonT.McGuireT. & BaynhamM. (2006) A Literature Review of Research on Teacher Education in Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL. London: National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy.
41.
MoylesJ. & StuartD. (2003) Which School-based Elements of Partnership in Initial Teacher Training in the UK Support Trainee Teachers' Professional Development? In Research Evidence in Education Library. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/imd/Default.aspx?tabid=308
42.
MurrayJ. (2007) Countering Insularity in Teacher Education: Academic work on pre-service courses in nursing, social work and teacher education, Journal of Education for Teaching, 33(3), 271–291. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1080/02607470701450270
43.
MurrayJ.DavisonJ. & JohnP. (2006) The Academic Tribe of Teacher Educators: Exploring diversities in academic and professional identity. Paper presented at European Conference on Educational Research, Geneva, Switzerland, 13–15 September.
PonteP. (2007) The Facilitation of Communication in Action Research as Praxis. Paper presented at International Colloquium on Making Authentic Connections between Practitioner Inquiry and Teacher Professional Learning in Initial Teacher Education and Ongoing Teacher Professional Development, Leeds Metropolitan University, 8–10 October.
46.
ReesG.BaronS.BoyaskR. & TaylorC. (2007) Research Capacity Building, Professional Learning and the Social Practices of Educational Research, British Educational Research Journal, 33(5), 761–779. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1080/01411920701582447
47.
RowlandS. (2005) The Enquiring University Teacher. Buckingham: Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press.
48.
SarasonS. (1998) The Predictable Failure of Educational Reform: Can we change course before it's too late?San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
TooleyJ. & DarbyD. (1998) Educational Research: A critique. A Survey of Published Educational Research. London: Office for Standards in Education.
51.
TotterdellM.WoodroffeL.BubbS. & HanrahanK. (2004) The Impact of NQT Induction Programmes on the Enhancement of Teacher Expertise, Professional Development, Job Satisfaction or Retention Rates: A systematic review of research on induction, in Research Evidence in Education Library. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/imd/Default.aspx?tabid=307
52.
WallimanN. (2005) Your Research Project. London: Sage.
53.
WilsonV.HallJ.DavidsonJ. & LewinJ. (2006) Developing Teachers: A review of early professional development. General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) Research Publication No. 3. Edinburgh: GTCS Research.
54.
WolterS. (2007) International Commentary on Improving Educational Research: Teaching and Learning Research Project's projects and themes, British Educational Research Journal, 33(5), 801–804. https://dx-doi-org.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1080/01411920701592222
55.
YatesL. (2004) What Does Good Education Research Look Like? Maidenhead: Open University Press.
