Cultural Competence And National Professional Standards For Teachers

National standards for teaching have been developed in recent years in Australia to drive improvements and national consistency in teaching quality. Thelma Perso discusses how some of the standards’ focus areas refer specifically to the teaching and learning of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, in recognition of the concomitant urgency around ‘closing the gap’ between the achievement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. She comments on the significance of ‘cultural competency’ and outlines some of her concerns regarding the potential of the standards to raise the quality of teaching to the extent that the ‘gap’ will be addressed.

This book seeks to not only articulate a vision for the profession through Standards for Teacher Educators but also provide a historical perspective of and explore the issues surrounding these standards. To accomplish this, the book establishes the history of teacher education as a discipline, defines who is a teacher educator, and provides a historical foundation for these standards. The reader is then presented with a set of mini-chapters designed to conceptualize a vision for teacher educators through each of the nine standards. Featuring voices of eductors in diverse fields, the third section expands thinking about the standards and how they may or may not apply to others. The final section provides viewpoints on Standards for Teacher Educators and the potential impact of such standards on the profession.

This book examines the ways in which PDSs build cultural competence for various stakeholders including pre-service teachers, classroom teachers, school leaders, college faculty, and K-12 students. Given the increased national attention on the opportunity gap present in underserved marginalized communities across the country, the authors in this series identify a combination of research-based practices and institutional changes that increase student attainment and develop educators’ capacity to serve a range of diverse learners. We are certain the timeliness of the topic will provide educators with context for understanding the role PDSs play in the creation of culturally responsive schools.

Higher education is a high stakes process involving engagement with curricula and often entails coping with the onslaught of assessments and examinations. This process creates a level of intensity that impacts on the student experience in higher education. It is, therefore, important to consider not only the motivational aspects of learning but also quality of life issues, as they have profound effects on students. Quality of life affects the way students interact with their formal education, and has wide-reaching effects on future careers and their ability to coordinate everyday events. Integrating these two concepts, student motivation and quality of life, brings together the explicit elements that underpin learning in the higher education context, creating links between the affective and social aspects of the student life. This synthesis is integral to improving student retention and quality of life and has important ramifications for educationalists, administrators, pastoral care and academic support service personnel, and students themselves. Some highlights of the book include: Applied Positive Psychology in Higher Education Internationalisation and Quality of Life: A Taiwanese Perspective The Computer Assisted Learning for the Mind (CALM) Website: Teaching Skills to Increase Resilience The Oxford University Peer Support Programme: Addressing the Wellbeing of Students Higher Education and Student Stress: Reclaiming Light, Liberty and Learning Improving academic quality of life through attribution- and motivation-focused counselling

"Developing Critical Cultural Competence provides educators with the inspiration, knowledge, and tools to move from theory to action in seeking to eliminate the achievement gap." —Bess Scott, Director of Elementary Education Lincoln Public Schools, NE "As I read this book, it became clear that my long-held belief about the meaning of cultural competence needed a makeover. I am now convinced that my personal definition of diversity should embrace a much deeper appreciation of differences and transformative action." —Denise Carlson, Curriculum Consultant Heartland Area Education Agency, Johnston, IA Cultural competence is key to improved student achievement The increasingly diverse nature of today′s schools and the need to increase the achievement of all students, no matter their background, requires 21st-century teachers to develop critical cultural competence. Looking at data is not enough. We have to know who our students are! This book shows you how to provide professional development that deepens teachers′ cultural understanding. Developing Critical Cultural Competence helps educators translate new knowledge into action with activities that focus on the three inseparable insights required for developing teachers′ critical cultural competency: Understanding themselves Understanding their students Understanding their students′ families and communities In addition to the activities are reflection questions, group discussion questions, online extensions for facilitators, and a sample professional development plan. A companion website provides reproducible resource lists and handouts as well as examples that can serve as models for some of the activities.

With the current emphasis on standards in the schools, one may think that this is a new phenomenon. However, as this pamphlet clearly demonstrates, while standards in American schools have a long history dating back to Reconstruction, the recommendations for what is needed to improve teacher education are remarkably similar—brighter students, more realistic classes, rigorous general education, serious evaluation, and so on. The reports and guidelines share a zeal for the standards they are promulgating, but are thin on research to support their recommendations. The irony is that the 'profession's power is so fragmented, and its prestige so ailing,' that adequate support for teacher education and professional practice remain elusive. The report concludes that only a concerted effort by a coalition of organizations could generate the support needed to achieve a major breakthrough in the quality of schooling and teacher education.