Inservice Teacher Education Sector Representatives

These learning materials have been developed as part of INSTEP, a uniquely New Zealand research project on the practice and learning of inservice teacher educators (ISTEs). It is thus fitting that they should open with a whakataukī – "He tomokanga paepae he ara ki te aotūroa" – dedicated to ISTEs and alluding to their common objective of ongoing future improvement.

Like INSTEP, Ki te Aotūroa is cutting edge – we know of no similar publication anywhere in the world. It has been developed collaboratively as a result of ISTEs inquiring into their practice and of robust dialogue between practitioners, researchers, writers, and evaluators. The six learning cases reflect the richness and diversity of ISTE practice and learning and the need to ensure that they are underpinned by evidence and understandings from theory and research. The four areas of ISTE knowledge and expertise and the proposed theory of improvement for ISTEs provide a rich theoretical basis for ISTEs’ work, making explicit the principles and understandings upon which they can base their decisions.

Ki te Aotūroa will be a critical resource for new ISTEs and invaluable for the learning of experienced ISTEs and the development of the New Zealand teacher education sector. It makes frequent references to the complementary publication, the Teacher Professional Learning and Development: Best Evidence Synthesis Iteration (2007). Together these two core resources promote inquiry as a vital tool for ISTEs and emphasise that ISTE learning and practice must be driven by student needs and evaluated in relation to their impact on student outcomes.

We commend the Ministry of Education for its foresight in establishing a project such as INSTEP and for supporting the development of these resulting learning materials. Adopting a research and development framework over three years demonstrated an understanding that learning takes time and recognised inquiry as integral to the regular work of ISTEs. The investment acknowledged the importance of inservice teacher education as a systems lever for change and served to break down barriers between ISTE organisations within New Zealand.

Serving on the INSTEP Sector Reference Group and evaluating Ki te Aotūroa as it neared publication have undoubtedly benefited our own learning as well as our work in supporting groups of ISTEs in our institutions. On behalf of all those involved in INSTEP, we extend an invitation to all ISTEs and inservice teacher education providers to fully engage with these materials as part of a common commitment to ISTE professional learning that will lead to a better future for young people in Aotearoa.

Michael Absolum (Director, Evaluation Associates Limited)

Jane Barnett (Director, School Support Services, The University of Waikato)

Ian Morrison (Associate Director, Education Support Services, University of Otago)

Pam O’Connell (Manager, Professional Learning, Learning Media Limited)

Mary Sinclair (Executive Director, Cognition Consulting Limited)

Return to top