The study reported here sought to gain insight into the experience of transition into teaching in an international Christian school that could inform the development of a pre-field orientation (PFO) programme for Australian Christian teachers. The experiences of five American teachers who had participated in a pre-field orientation programme was…

The pace of societal change and the development of societal challenges have speeded up considerably during the last couple of decades, with substantial impact on different levels, i.e. ranging from global to local, or from business to government. When focusing on the public domain, these changes and challenges have had a major impact on public…

Worldwide, teacher shortages have created a demand for certified teachers. Throughout the world, local and national governments are seeking ways to resolve this issue. New York City (NYC), the largest public (i.e. state funded) school district in the United States, addressed the teacher shortage by creating an alternate route to certification…

In this invited autobiography, the author describes the impact that educational gaming and simulation has had on his professional career. He begins by reviewing his early life and education in Aberdeen and his subsequent work as a research scientist, schoolteacher, and physics lecturer. He then shows how he changed disciplines from physics to…

Findings are reported from two studies examining from which specific backgrounds and in which ways second-career teachers make the transition to teaching. The transfer of existing competencies to teaching is shown to involve a challenging interplay between experiences of continuity and change. Continuity was found at the level of beliefs. Change…

This study explores the impact of an alternative teacher preparation program development from the "inside out" or through the voices of second career teachers, known as "Career Switchers," at a mid-size state university. The major objective of this study was to probe into their perceptions to inform program development with reporting framed in…

The authors describe a career-enhancement program, at Texas Tech University, for students in chemistry or biology who want to enter the field of chemical engineering. (SA)

Academic careers are becoming an individual and institutional problem. The dimensions of the problem are outlined, a limited set of frameworks for addressing it through career change are provided, and an individual and institutional program to assist faculty in career change is recommended. (MSE)

An overview is provided of continuing education programs for mid-life change, with an emphasis on the offerings of community colleges and employers; on career, family life, and women's education; and on counseling. (SK)

The urgent need for special-education teachers can be met through alternative certification. Full-time teachers benefit from the flexibility of such programs, which can be applied to teachers in other specialties. This paper explains the design of the California State University Intern Program (intern seminars, ongoing advisement, and on-the-job…

This article chronicles the efforts of one college faculty and their school partners to respond to the contemporary challenges faced by teacher education. It depicts the authors' journey through the planning and implementation of an innovative initial certification master's of arts in teaching (MAT) program in elementary education in the…