Ideas and Universities Seminar
March 2, 2009
Cross-national Trends in Teacher Work Roles and Working Conditions
8:00 AM -  9:30 AM
The Pyle Center, 702 Langdon Street
This event is free and open to the public.
Gerald LeTendre
Professor
With the growing attention to curricular standardization, especially in math and science, and equitable conditions that promote learning for all students, most research has continued to focus on instructional practice alone. Accountability issues (teacher quality defined as certification) and equity (access to qualified teachers) have been at the fore in many cases. But, scant attention has been paid to teacher working conditions, norms, and roles even though they vary widely, even among highly developed nations.

Professor LeTendre will explore transnational trends in teacher working norms and discuss potential factors that contribute to, or inhibit, increasing isomorphism in teachers’ work. On the one hand, an increasing network of organizations and international testing regimes have worked to strengthen a trans-national consensus on teachers’ work. On the other hand, counter-trends include local adaptation, lack of national norms and expectations, and a continuous stream of reforms sparked by constant comparison and competition, especially among developed nations. LeTendre will also discuss how universities that engage in teacher education need to be aware of these trends and maintain a critical perspective on how their research and training goals affect teachers’ work.




This presentation is part of the Ideas and Universities International Video Seminar Series and is made available on the UW–Madison campus thanks to funding and support from the UW-Madison Division of International Studies, the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Bristol (UK), the Worldwide Universities Network, WISCAPE, and UW–Madison's School of Education International Education Committee.

In-person attendance at the Pyle Center viewing site is strongly encouraged to ensure your opportunity to interact and discuss with other participants locally and internationally. However, for those unable to attend, WUN usually offers a live webcast of the event which can be accessed through the Ideas and Universities Seminar Series website.
Media associated with this event
Cross-national Trends in Teacher Work Roles and Working Conditions
Cross-national Trends in Teacher Work Roles and Working Conditions
Cross-national Trends in Teacher Work Roles and Working Conditions
Cross-national Trends in Teacher Work Roles and Working Conditions
 
 

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