3 Review(s)

Teacher Education today undergoes sweeping changes both in terms of policy regulations and quality output. As countries all around the globe are restructuring and revamping educational systems to suit the challenges of globalization, decentralization and market orientation so is the field of Teacher Education. Taking into account the great diversity of various regulations, laws, policies and practices enacted in these contexts, the essential role of teachers in educational advancement and betterment of society is widely recognized. The UNESCO recommendation on the status of teachers commensurate with the needs of education is praiseworthy. It regards teaching as a profession and a public service which requires teachers’ expert knowledge, and specialized skills acquired and maintained through rigorous and continuing study. To fulfill this huge responsibility quality teacher training should be given to aspirants who enter the teaching profession to develop sense of personal and social worth for the welfare of learners and to society at large. This book contains in-depth coverage of concepts, components and strategies of Teacher Education in twelve chapters. It begins with an overview of the meaning, nature, scope, objectives and types of Teacher Education. It is followed by origin and development of Teacher Education in pre-independent and post-independent India. Next the structure of Teacher Education along with the objectives of Teacher Education at different stages of Education, nature of curriculum for Teacher Education and developmental concerns are discussed. The policy imperatives that govern various mechanisms and the reforms undertook to revamp the regulatory functions of Teacher Education are presented with special emphasis to the NCTE regulations to improve Teacher Education in the country. The most important topic on teaching as a profession is elaborated in detail next along with professionalization of Teacher Education and the importance of Professional Development of Teachers and ways and means of achieving it. Status of teacher educators is expressed as evidenced by the significance of their role, rights and responsibilities. The concept and nature of teacher competency is explained providing the different competency areas of teachers. The structure of teacher effectiveness accompanies next following the self-evaluation v framework for teachers. The next chapter contains the factors determining Teacher Quality followed by Quality Enhancement in Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). Total Quality Management (TQM) in Teacher Education is discussed. The strategies for quality control and management plus the institutions and agencies responsible for managing Teacher Education is presented. The aims, purpose, approaches, challenges and trends of Teacher evaluation is focused illustrating few models. The next chapter throws light on the issues and quality concerns of Teacher Education in India and abroad. This chapter also examines the capacity building initiatives for Teacher Empowerment and the application of Technology solutions to Capacity Building of teachers. Considering the global perspectives and challenges of Teacher Education the preceding chapter outlines the structural and conceptual alternatives of teacher preparation. It distinguishes competency-based teacher education and performance-based teacher education and point out ways to support teachers in modern classrooms. The last two chapters deal with emerging trends and Innovations in teacher education followed by underscoring the need and relevance of research in Teacher Education reiterating the feel of developing research culture in TEIs. This comprehensive book is prepared and designed for a course in Teacher Education for the students of B.Ed., M.Ed. and M.A. in Education. The relevant aspects regarding contents are presented after a thorough analysis and review of literature from various sources that are acknowledged with due respect and reverence. This book further act as a reliable resource for the practicing professionals and academicians in the field of education, to enable them to incorporate, design and execute mechanisms for accomplishing effective teacher preparation and development. A simple and easy to read style is followed throughout the book for easy comprehension. I am extremely grateful to Codex International Publishers especially Lokesh Gowda, publication-in-charge and other production team members for their encouraging interactions with me and meticulous processing and publishing of the manuscript. I look forward to suggestions for improving the contents of this book.