'Asia Literacy' through Research-Oriented School-Engaged Teacher Education: From Volunteer Mandarin Teaching-Assistants to Volunteer Teacher-Researchers

Australian Teacher Education Association. e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://atea.edu.au

N

24

Australian Research Council

Foreign Countries; Teacher Researchers; Volunteers; Teacher Education; Teacher Education Programs; Mandarin Chinese; Teaching Assistants; Evidence; Teaching Experience; Literature Reviews; Research; Case Studies; Cross Cultural Studies; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6; Grade 7

Asia; Australia; China

This paper explores the possibilities for building research-oriented, school-engaged teacher education through the professional learning of volunteer teacher-researchers. Volunteerism in education covers a broad spectrum of people and activities ranging from working in school canteens to supporting language and literacy programs. This paper reports on the professional learning of volunteer Mandarin teaching assistants as they develop into volunteer teacher-researchers. Situating this study in relation to Australian National Asian Languages and Studies in Schools Program, this paper draws on concepts from "Asia literacy" for its theoretical framework. A review of the research literature points to a need to value volunteers' contributions to teaching experience as a way of promoting volunteerism in schools. Elements of the research method for the study reported here include the project's focus, the participants and their selection, and ethical protocols. The analysis of evidence explores the transition through the work-integrated professional learning of these volunteer teacher-researchers, tracking their development through a collection of 28 documents. The discussion section uses the concept of "Asia literacy" to analyse the value of this research-oriented, school-engaged teacher education program. (Contains 4 tables.)

As Provided

17

2011

ED524758