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A Discussion Paper: The Development of Professional Teacher Standards in Environmental Education

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Amy Cutter-Mackenzie*
Affiliation:
Monash University
Barbara Clarke
Affiliation:
Monash University
Phil Smith
Affiliation:
Australian Association for Environmental Education
*
Faculty of Education, Monash University, Peninsula Campus Office A3.32, McMahons Road, Frankston Victoria 3199, Australia. Email: Amy.CutterMackenzie@Education.monash.edu.au

Abstract

Professional teaching associations in Australia and abroad have been developing teacher and/or teaching standards and associated professional learning and assessment models in the key discipline areas since the 1990s. In Australia, a specific intent of this approach is to capture and recognise the depth and range of accomplished educators' teaching. Despite the increasing work in this area, there has been a dearth of discussion about teacher standards in environmental education and no previous attempt to research and/or develop professional teacher standards for environmental education in Australia. This paper discusses the history of teacher standards in Australia, and considers the implications for the development of teacher standards in environmental education. In doing so, we present a research-practice model that is currently being piloted in Victoria for developing accomplished professional teacher standards and learning in environmental education with and for accomplished Australian primary and secondary teachers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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