Lifelong learning and teacher education

In 2001 this project was undertaken by members of the Centre for Lifelong Learning at [the] Australian Catholic University. The authors were concerned to understand the ways in which lifelong learning was conceptualised in Australian teacher education. Their investigation sought to determine how teacher educators’ roles and responsibilities might change in response to the policy challenge of making lifelong learning a reality for all. The project had three broad goals: to examine the policies, principles and practices that are shaping the roles and responsibilities of teacher educators as they seek to make lifelong learning a reality for all; to identify and analyse changed roles and responsibilities for teacher educators resulting from the current emphasis on lifelong learning; and to project the implications for Governments, employing authorities, schools and Faculties of Education as they seek to enable teacher educators to make lifelong learning a reality. The report presented the case study findings. It outlined examples of ‘good practice’ in the key areas of: curriculum and new conceptions of knowledge; learning, teaching and information and communication technology; leading and managing; partnerships and pathways; and standard setting, assessment, reporting and evaluation. Data gathered in the course of the project was collated and an analysis conducted to devise an Action Plan for operationalising lifelong learning in Australian teacher education. The project was funded by the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs under the Evaluation and Investigation Program (EIP).