Characteristics and Conditions for Innovative Teachers

Kay Livingston is a Professor of Educational Research, Policy and Practice at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Carol O’Sullivan is a former Head of Department and former lecturer in Social, Personal and Health Education in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland. Karl Attard is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Malta, Malta.

Teachers make a difference every day. By providing quality and inspiring education, they contribute to the learning and development of children and thus to a sustainable future. This is critical given the challenges our world faces. In order to guarantee a high level of education, continuous improvement and innovation is necessary. This requires knowledge, skills and a reflective, research-oriented attitude from teachers that is focused on the future and therefore on innovation; there is a need for innovative teachers. This raises questions such as: What characterizes an innovative teacher? What is the influence of the (school) environment, (school) leadership and colleagues on the innovativeness of teachers? Can innovativeness of teachers be taught or strengthened, and if so, how? The chapters in this book address these questions, among others.This book is the result of a strong collaboration facilitated by the Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE). Members of the ATEE Research and Development Community (RDC) of Professional Development of Teachers are particularly involved, as editors of this book. Kay Livingston, Carol O’Sullivan and Karl Attard have done a great job by bringing ATEE members together at ATEE conferences and beyond and by encouraging them to collaborate. The aim of the ATEE is enhancing the quality of teacher education in Europe and supporting the professional development of teachers and teacher educators at all levels. The ATEE tries to reach its aim through active dialogue and international exchange of research and practice by increasing the cooperation between individuals and institutions. This book is a good example of how this process works successfully. I am convinced this book, thanks to all editors, authors and others involved, will make an important contribution to the knowledge and dialogue about educational innovation and the role of innovative teachers in this, and thus to the further development of teachers and (teacher) education.Michiel HeijnenPresident of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe

• 1. Introduction to the Innovative Teachers Research Study 2. Policy context for the development of innovative teachers 3. Characteristics and conditions to support innovative teachers: Agency to transform learning and teaching 4. Being an innovative teacher: Understanding qualities and processes 5. Innovative preschool teachers as educational development leaders: A Swedish case 6. The innovative teacher within learning organisations: A leadership perspective 7. Innovative teachers: How? Under which circumstances? 8. Innovative teachers from the perspective of teacher educators 9. Analysing practice as a gateway towards developing various desirable characteristics of innovative teachers 10. Transformative professional development to develop and support innovative teachers