Research-Informed Teacher Learning

Research-informed Teacher Learning, edited by Professor Lori Beckett, serves two significant purposes.The first is to honour the work on the professional learning of teachers of the late Professor Carey Philpott. The second is to disseminate and develop further the central proposition of Carey's work that research must be one central intellectual resource to ensure teaching is a research-informed profession and as such, to ensure teachers are able to take leadership of the profession. Research-informed Teacher Learning succeeds admirably on both counts.

Emeritus Professor Bob Lingard, The University of Queensland, and Professorial Fellow, Australian Catholic University

Policy makers in particular need to take notice of this important new collection. In the global neo-liberal conceptualization of education performativity and accountability are valorized and the role of the professional teacher and teacher educator is too often defined and delimited by a focus on results and outcomes. A radical shift is required that places attention on the role of education as a public and social good that can make a difference in the lives of young people and contribute more equal and healthy societies. Urgent consideration should be given to educational professionals and practitioners as purveyors of public good and more general questions asked about the purpose of education. This book is timely in offering such a critique. It pays homage to Professor Cary Philpott, to whom the book is dedicated, and the important question he asked: ‘Who has all the answers in education (and why should we believe them)?’. The reflections of contributors offer a wide ranging, nuanced and critically reflective response that should be of interest to a wide range of educational stakeholders.

Professor Joanne Hughes, UNESCO Chair/Director of the Centre for Shared Education,School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast

This insightful and timely book builds on the considerable legacy of Carey Philpott in the field of educational research. The chapters in the book use Carey’s work as a springboard to address a wide range of important contemporary questions about teacher learning, the complex relationships between theory and practice, and what constitutes effective research in education. This book is essential reading for teachers and teacher educators.

Ian Thompson, Associate Professor of English Education, University of Oxford.

This crucial book answers some critical questions about teaching and teacher education. Can the traditional model of ‘teacher education 1.0’ be challenged? Can practitioners manage their own professional learning in the classroom, researching real problems of practice that help them build professional knowledge with their colleagues and community? Can educators critically and creatively respond to policy that works to constrain social justice for some children but also pro-actively advocate for better informed policies? The contributors assembled here say yes. They provide evidence of how research-active professionals can lead change, show us that this ambition is still alive and well in our profession, and give us much-needed hope for the future of our profession.

Jo-Anne Reid, Professor of Education, Charles Sturt University

This excellent book, bringing together a distinguished group of critical scholars, has important messages for teachers and teacher educators that deserve to be read. Taking a cue from the late Professor Carey Philpott, each contributor goads teachers to think about ‘from whom and how’ they can learn more effectively in order to encourage research-informed critical conversations among professional communities, including teacher unions. This is so urgent in the face of ever-changing government policy directions, inspired by global neo-liberal agendas with their emphases on performativity and accountability that not only threatens the status of teachers but also to eradicate their professional judgement. Research-informed teacher learning will surely help to safeguard teachers’ roles as professional educators marked by professional autonomy and professional self-determination. The book is a credit to all concerned and a fitting memorial tribute.

John Carr,Former General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and Chair of the Vere Foster Trust.

This book provides an insightful and lively continuation of the work of Professor Carey Philpott and his exploration of the issues surrounding teachers’ professional learning. It provides a clear discussion and dissection of the thorny issues of models for teacher education, and how the conceptual space between theory and practice may be bridged. In doing so, this book starts to do just that: providing an essential resource for teacher educators, teachers, education researchers and those involved in constructing professional learning policies. The tripartite golden threads of theory, research and practice run through each chapter to build to a powerful conclusion, to motivate, inspire and celebrate the professional discourse in teachers’ professional learning.

Graham French, Postgraduate lead & Tutor to the Outdoor Activities PGCE Group, School of Education and Human Development, Bangor University