Transformative Professional Practice

Motivation is foundational to learning This book’s bold new vision for professional learning emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and respect for cultural diversity. Knowing that culture and motivation are inseparable influences on learning, Margery B. Ginsberg provides practical steps for teaching and learning that are grounded in the reality of students' lives. The program’s processes include: Shadowing students to help sharpen teachers’ understanding of student motivation. Conducting home visits to better connect with students’ lives and families Collaborating with other teachers to design lessons Analyzing data in collaboration with students, families, and community members

Emerging from an education world that sees professional learning as a tool to positively shape teaching practice in order to improve student learning, Transformational Professional Learning elucidates professional learning that is transformational for teachers, school leaders, and schools. Written from the unique ‘pracademic’ perspective of an author who is herself a practising teacher, school leader, and researcher, this book articulates the why and the what of professional learning. It acts as a bridge between research and practice by weaving scholarly literature together with the lived experience of the author and with the voices of those working in schools. It covers topics from conferences, coaching, and collaboration, to teacher standards and leadership of professional learning. This book questions the ways in which professional learning is often wielded in educational settings and shows where teachers, school leaders, system leaders, and researchers can best invest their time and resources in order to support and develop the individuals, teams, and cultures in schools. It will be of great interest to teachers, leaders within schools, staff responsible for professional learning in school contexts, professional learning consultants, professional learning providers, and education researchers.

Transformative Learning in Healthcare and Helping Professions Education: Building Resilient Professional Identities is a co-edited book (Carter, Boden, and Peno) with invited chapters from educators who share our passion for learning in healthcare and the helping professions. The purpose of the book is to introduce professional learners (students, residents, and others in professional training) to transformative learning for building resilient professional identities amid practice environments that include widespread burnout and compassion fatigue. With a diverse set of authors engaged in clinical and educational practice in academic medicine, nursing, dentistry, physical therapy, mental health counseling, science education, psychology, social work, and inter-professional collaborative practice, we offer strategies for building resilience throughout the years of professional training and into professional practice. We do so through the experiences of authors involved in healthcare and the helping professions to illustrate how some are coping with the challenges of burnout and compassion fatigue through learning that can be transformative. This book explores the nature of professional identity formation by examining ways that professionals in training can thrive amid the challenges of today’s stressful practice environments. First-hand stories of resilience illustrate how learners, as well as educators in these professions, are addressing adversity, career decision-making, service to the underserved, and the self-care needed to provide excellent care for others. The prominence of transformative learning within adult learning theory is illustrated for its potential to revise the meaning that learners make of their experiences and open up new possibilities for renewed vitality in professional education and practice environments. The book has two primary audiences: professional learners in healthcare and helping professions education, and their educators who are often professional practitioners themselves. These educators have a significant role in influencing the next generation of professionals by serving as mentors, role models, and teachers. The importance of fostering learning that is transformative has never been more important than it is today for those who will work in these demanding professions. We invite readers to discover experiences and strategies for achieving individual wellbeing, as well as opportunities for building a culture within professional education and practice settings that will foster resilience.

Professional Development as Transformative Learning draws on recent scholarship in adult education to provide practical ideas for adult educators on how to stimulate and support their own development as educators and better understand the process of professional development as adult learning. Building on the work of Mezirow, Brookfield, and other contemporary theorists, Patricia Cranton creates a practical, personal approach to educator development - one that is self-directed, reflective, and transformative. Throughout the book, Cranton offers examples of her strategies in action, showing how adult educators in a variety of settings can use these techniques to improve their skills and practice.

Put into action, instructional frameworks help teachers locate their current level of fluency, focus on the key dimensions of professional judgment, and take their practice to the next level. Discover how to accelerate teacher growth by taking the “insider’s view” of practice, articulating key dimensions of professional judgment to create clear growth pathways for teachers at every level of fluency. Teacher leaders, administrators, and instructional coaches will gain a replicable process for: Identifying the most promising areas of focus Drafting and piloting an initial framework Getting input and feedback from teachers Articulating a vision for exemplary practice Building momentum and overcoming resistance to change Contents: Introduction Part 1: What Are Instructional Frameworks? Chapter 1: Defining and Developing Instructional Frameworks Chapter 2: Making Shared Expectations More Specific Chapter 3: Instructional Frameworks in Action—Case Studies Part 2: How to Develop Instructional Frameworks Chapter 4: Choose a Focus Chapter 5: Bounding Your Improvement Focus Chapter 6: Identifying Key Components Chapter 7: Articulating Levels of Fluency Chapter 8: Getting Started and Getting Input Part 3: Instructional Frameworks in Action Chapter 9: Using Instructional Frameworks for Teacher Growth Chapter 10: Broader Applications for Instructional Frameworks Chapter 11: Supporting Organization-Level Initiatives With Instructional Frameworks Conclusion: Coming Full Circle Appendix A-Q References and Resources Index

Combining critical reflectivity and pragmatic guidance, this book is designed to meet the needs of professionals in the public and private sector whose work involves them in developing their own and other's knowledge and practice. The book begins by providing a thoroughly referenced review of the philosophies and theories underpinning current approaches to professional education as a basis for demonstrating the particular salience and implications of a Personal Construct Psychology approach for practice and research. This establishes a conceptual Framework for the extensive practical guidance which follows on how to implement, with rigour and sensitivity, a range of techniques from the traditional structured repertory grid to more flexible, innovative strategies for exploring how the world is or might be construed. A selection of exemplar applications from a variety of fields of professional practice illustrates the elasticity of the approach and methods, challenging readers to adapt the ideas presented as a catalytic resource to the development of professional practice and research.

Combining critical reflectivity and pragmatic guidance, this book is designed to meet the needs of professionals in the public and private sector whose work involves them in developing their own and others’ knowledge and practice. The book begins by providing a thoroughly referenced review of the philosophies and theories underpinning current approaches to professional education as a basis for demonstrating the particular salience and implications of a Personal Construct Psychology approach for practice and research. This establishes a conceptual framework for the extensive practical guidance which follows on how to implement, with rigour and sensitivity, a range of techniques from the traditional structured repertory grid to more flexible, innovative strategies for exploring how the world is or might be construed. A selection of exemplar applications from a variety of fields of professional practice illustrates the elasticity of the approach and methods, challenging readers to adapt the ideas presented as a catalytic resource to the development of professional practice and research.

Motivation is foundational to learning This book′s bold new vision for professional learning emphasizes the importance of intrinsic motivation and respect for cultural diversity to create a transformative approach to school improvement. Knowing that culture and motivation are inseparable influences on learning, Margery B. Ginsberg provides practical steps that focus on teaching and learning grounded in the reality of children′s lives. Because motivated teachers tend to have motivated students, Ginsberg′s professional development program creates the same motivational conditions for adult learning that work well for students. The book′s processes include Shadowing students to help sharpen teachers′ understanding of student motivation. Conducting home visits to better connect with students′ lives and families Collaborating with other teachers to design lessons Analyzing data in collaboration with students, families, and community members Included are an abundance of field-tested tools, templates, and protocols. Teachers and administrators will find an experienced voice of reason to guide them through today′s maze of increasing demands as they work toward the ultimate goal of engaging all students.

This is the second book in the series Transformative Pedagogies for Teacher Education. Like the first book in the series it is geared towards practitioners in the field of teacher education. This second book focuses on action, agency and dialogue. It features chapters by a collection of teacher educators, researchers, teacher advocates and practitioners drawing on their research and experiences with teacher candidates to explore critical issues in teacher education. The book will be useful to teacher educators working with teacher candidates in different contexts, particularly diverse contexts. Given demographic shifts and the need for educators to respond to growing diversity in schools, educators will find valuable strategies in Transformative Pedagogies in Teacher Education: Critical Action, Agency and Dialogue in Teaching and Learning Contexts they can implement in their own practice. In addition to valuable strategies, authors explore different approaches and perspectives in teacher education in the preparation of teacher candidates for a changing world. Critical notions of education are posited from different perspectives and locations. This book will be useful for schools, school boards and districts engaging in ongoing professional development of teachers. It will also be of value to school leaders and aspiring leaders in principal preparation programs as working with new teachers and teacher educators is an integral part of their role.

Foster reflective teacher leadership and make real change happen! Teachers are powerful change agents in the on-going process of school improvement. This insightful, must-read companion guide to Donohoo’s best-selling Collaborative Inquiry for Educators helps school leaders develop a sustainable professional learning culture. Practical suggestions and in-depth research shed light on your path as you explore the benefits and challenges of adopting authentic teacher collaboration across schools and districts. Learn valuable lessons from leaders in the field and discover: A rationale and framework for engaging in inquiry The vital conditions needed to ensure systemwide collaboration Common pitfalls and the four stages of school improvement