Qualified teacher or quality teacher? Appraising old answers with new ideas

Shuying Sean LI

Research output: Contribution to conferencePapers

Abstract

This paper examines teachers' quality teaching in the dynamic and contingent classroom setting through classroom anecdotes obtained during the author's most recent research project in Hong Kong. It raises the research question of how we should interpret the meaning of 'quality teacher'. Experiential stories of unexpected/contingent classroom moments have been obtained through teacher/student interviews and writing exercises (three schools with 20 teachers and 200 students participated), and interpreted using the technique of hermeneutic phenomenological inquiry. Emerged themes from the analysis show that quality teaching is creative and risk-taking; it is relational, embodied and normative, and culturally constructed. Quality should not be confused with qualifications. While people tend to understand quality teaching in the language of management and technology, this paper reminds us that we need to seek a broader understanding. Nonetheless, rather than finding new answers or solutions, this paper intends to raise more questions and allow reader to reflect further on this lasting topic of quality teaching and teacher qualities.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2010
EventThe 2nd East Asian International Conference on Teacher Education Research: "Teacher Education for the Future: International Perspectives" - The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong, China
Duration: 15 Dec 201017 Dec 2010

Conference

ConferenceThe 2nd East Asian International Conference on Teacher Education Research: "Teacher Education for the Future: International Perspectives"
Abbreviated titleEAI 2010
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHong Kong
Period15/12/1017/12/10

Citation

Li, S. (2010, December). Qualified teacher or quality teacher? Appraising old answers with new ideas. Paper presented at the 2nd East Asian International Conference on Teacher Education Research: Teacher Education for the Future: International Perspectives, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, China.

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