Peer-Reviewed Journal Details
Mandatory Fields
Lonergan, J. ; Mooney Simmie, G. ; Moles, J.
2012
August
International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education
Mentoring to reproduce or change discourse in schools
Published
()
Optional Fields
teacher education teacher professional learning mentoring teachers' perceptions
1
2
104
119
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to share findings from a Master's study exploring teacher professional learning needs with the purpose of elucidating the needs of teachers, and mentor teachers, within the school cultural context in the Republic of Ireland. This study coincides with a relentless neo‐liberal drive to outsource most of what was traditionally seen as state investment across all public services, including education. Design/methodology/approach The research methodology is a small scale qualitative research study exploring the perceptions of experienced teachers in two secondary schools. It examines the conditions which may account for different levels of engagement in this regard. Findings The key findings show very different levels of engagement in school based teacher professional learning in the two secondary schools. Research limitations/implications These findings have serious implications for the type of whole school mentoring that needs to be offered within schools at a time when policymakers are mandating teacher professional learning and requiring the development of critical reasoning capacities for all pupils in a global knowledge world. Originality/value This study is concerned with the readiness of the experienced teacher to mentor beginning teachers, and student teachers, in ways that value co‐inquiry, care, agency and critical thinking within the ecology of a whole school environment. Mentoring has become a popular construct in everyday usage. The originality of this research lies in the use of productive mentoring as a framework developed by the authors and under continual interrogation.
Emerald, UK
2046-6854
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/20466851211262851
Grant Details