Learning in and from Practice

ISBN-13: 9783639136562 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 196 str.

Elena Jurasaite-Harbison

Opis

This study explores teachers workplace learning in informal contexts. This work generates hypotheses about relationships between the nature of informal learning, its content and contexts. A socio-cultural perspective that underlies this research is based on the idea of learning as a cultural practice in which the learners agency is a critical factor. Three contrasting school cultures (Lithuanian, Russian in Lithuania and suburban American) in two countries-Lithuania and the United States-are compared as to the ways their educational systems perceive and provide opportunities for workplace informal teacher learning. The analysis highlights how teachers use these opportunities for their professional growth. The study informs educational researchers, teacher educators, administrators and teachers about possible ways of assisting teachers to become critical and reflective professionals who continuously improve their practice. The findings call for re-evaluating of professional development systems to include learning in informal settings, which is an important path for professional growth.

O autorze

Elena Jura ait -Harbison, Ph.D.: Studied Teacher Competencies at
Vilnius Pedagogical University and iauliai University, and
Teacher Learning at the University of Michigan. Teacher, School
Principal, International Child Development Project Country
Director. Currently, Assistant Professor of Education at Hofstra
University, New York.