This article discusses common geopolitical issues, such as globalisation, decolonialisation, and economic pressure that affect the development of teacher education policy in England, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, Russia, Israel, Jamaica, Portugal, Japan, Poland, and China. It goes on to describe these nations' responses to these pressures and…

We describe the design rationale and structure of a Methods for Teaching Physics course that was redesigned as a project-based learning (PBL) environment, and the entailed learning process it fostered. The projects consisted of the design and teaching of physics lessons with predefined content and pedagogical focus and were structured as a guided…

Against the pressures of standardization, some argue for the need to expand teachers' awareness to their "teaching self" because teachers "teach who they are." This article acknowledges the importance of this orientation; however, it is suggested that its implementation requires overcoming social reproduction. Teachers may have…

The objective of this article is to highlight the importance of advanced studies for the professional staff working in the field of early childhood education (ECE). Until 2001, Israeli MA programs were controlled exclusively by Israeli universities. The article deals with the development of MEd programs in Israeli colleges of education, using the…

In this article, the authors discuss a workshop they offer within their culturally diverse teacher education program in Israel. First, the authors introduce the context in which the workshop takes place. Then, they present the assumptions behind the workshop and describe how it works. In the next sections, the authors discuss the conditions…

This paper presents an online inter-group contact hypothesis (OICH) model, developed within the Israel education system, whereby online and distance learning (ODL) is used in the service of multiculturalism. The goal is to build bridges among secular and religious Arabs and Jews in Israel based on small multicultural groups and collaborative…

Many students have difficulties with basic algebraic concepts at high school and at university. In this paper two levels of algebraic structure sense are defined: for high school algebra and for university algebra. We suggest that high school algebra structure sense components are sub-components of some university algebra structure sense…

After presenting the principles relevant to the education of teachers, according to which the Israeli educational system is organized, this article examines the teacher education patterns in the various institutions of Israel. The role of ideological concepts, religious training, and political reform in the development and change of teacher…

In order for teachers to take a greater role in curriculum development, more trained curriculum coordinators are needed. A two-year Israeli course to teach skills in leadership, curriculum development, subject matter, and teaching techniques to future curriculum coordinators is described. (IS)

The postgraduate Teacher Thinking Seminar (TTS) was created to explore the implications of constructivist theory for teachers' education and development. Using participants' own practical knowledge, the main strategy was the dialectical process of group reflection. The article elaborates four seminar examples, suggesting that TTS can effectively…

Describes an internship program at Israel's Ben-Gurion University, examining the role of practicums in teacher education, noting the work of mentors and interns, and discussing internship methods at selected North American universities. Suggestions are made to enhance the effectiveness of Ben-Gurion's Residence Practicum Internship. (SM)

Describes the Israeli program, Support for Children Confined by Illness (TLALIM), which uses audiotapes, videotapes, and personal computers to enable sick children to keep up with their school work. The characteristics of persons needed to teach sick children and an outline of the teacher training program are given. (KRN)