S.94-14
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Office of the Vice-President, Academic
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MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
J.M. Munro, Chair, Senate Committee on Academic Planning
Subject: ?
Institute for Studies in Teacher Education
Date:
?
January 18, 1994
At its meeting on January 12, 1994, the Senate Committee on Academic Planning
recommended the establishment of the Institute for Studies in Teacher Education.
Motion: ?
"That Senate approve and recommend to the Board of Governors the
establishment of the Institute for Studies in Teacher Education and
the granting of a Charter to the Institute under the terms of Policy
R4001"
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SCAP 93 - 50
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MEMORANDUM
OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT, RESEARCH
TO:
Alison Watt
Secretary, Senate Committee
on Academic Planning (SCAP)
RE:
Institute
for Studies in Teacher
Education
FROM: Bruce P.
Clayman
John M. Munro
DATE:
22 November 1993
Attached is a proposal from Dr. Robin Barrow, Dean,
Faculty
of ?
Education, for the formation of the
Institute
for Studies in Teacher Education.
The
Governing Committee
for
Centres and Institutes
recommends that
the
Institute be granted approval by SCAP. Once approved by SCAP, the proposal is
to be forwarded to Senate, followed by submission to the
Board
of Governors.
Governing Committee:
Bruce P. C
layman
Vice
President, Research
(Acting)
J
- -
Nk^-
M.
Munro
Vice
President, Academic
S
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
DEAN OF EDUCATION
Memorandum
To:
Jock Munro, Vice-President, Academic
Bruce Clayman, Vice-President, Research
From:
Robin Barrow
Subject:
Institute for Studies in Teacher Education
Date:
1993-10-26
As you will see from the attached, the faculty put forward its proposal for an Institute for
Studies in Teacher Education in late 1990. That proposal went as far as Vice-President
(Dr. Leiss) but was then delayed as part of a general moratorium while the issue of
institutes
was examined.
We would like now to proceed with
all
due haste to establish the institute formally.
RB:nr
Enclosure
cc Mar
y
Wideen
E VICi:^\
RECEIVED
OCT29 1993
RESEARCH
S ?
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Education
Memo
?
To: Robin Barrow, Dean
From: Marvin Wideen
Date: September 15, 1993
Re: ?
A charter for the
Institute for Studies in Teacher Education
The Institute for Studies in Teacher Education was approved by a faculty vote in February
1990. The rationale for the Institute is described in the attached document and discussed-
further below. Since having established the Institute we have undertaken research studies,
set up a data base of references in teacher education, conducted three conferences,
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established a symposium series, and undertaken numerous other initiatives aimed at
achieving our objectives. For example, as a result of the activities by members of the
Institute we are now part of a network of ten institutions in the United States and Canada
whose purpose is to improve the delivery of teacher education programs. Three edited
volumes on teacher education
will
soon be released.
The purpose of this memorandum is to seek a University charter for the institute.
I
will
address the requirements contained in R 40.01.
Purpose. The purpose of the institute is described under 'background and objectives' in
the document that is attached. Our means to achieving those objectives are also contained
in that document.
Provision for the appointment of director. Because I was asked by the former dean to set
up the institute, I have acted as its unofficial director. I now propose that we formalize the
procedure along similar lines followed in the appointment of other persons within the
faculty. I would suggest that the Dean, after consultation with those working in the
institute, propose the name of an individual for ratification.
Governance. The institute would fall under the direct authority of the Dean, as in
Schedule A, Policies and Procedures R 40.01.
Obligation to conduct activities in accordance with University policies. It is the intention of
those in the institute to conduct all activities in accord with policies of the University. This
includes complying with the policies and procedures set forth in document R 40.01 as well
as other policies of the university that may apply.
.
A Proposal for an Institute for Studies in Teacher Education for the Faculty
?
of Education.
November 1990
Background and Objectives.
This proposal argues for establishing an
INSTITUTE FOR STUDIES IN TEACHER
EDUCATION
in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University. The general aim of
such an institute will be to promote and carry out research in the area of teacher education.
The rationale for establishing the institute rests primarily on a desire to promote research
and to take advantage of the growing amount of research and resulting literature which
already exists in the area. Furthermore, certain conditions and developments, both outside
and within the institutions which prepare teachers, support its establishment as well.
Research into teacher education as a field of study has grown substantially during
the past two decades. As evidence, we have seen CATE (Canadian Association of Teacher
Education) develop under the general CSSE umbrella in Canada, and Division K added
within the American Educational Research Association in the United States. Such
organizations, dedicated to the promotion of research in the area and the distribution of its
findings, have developed within other countries as well (l'isher & Wideen, 1990). These
developments have led to a growing number of studies into teacher education which clearly
identify it as an area of research. As an indication of this, the American Association of
Colleges for Teacher Education (Houston, 1990) has recently compiled the Handbook for
Research on Teacher Education which reviews several topics in the area.
This growing knowledge base opens several opportunities. First, it provides the
basis for continued research. Not only have beginnings been made in several areas of
teacher preparation, but the research has identified questions and productive lines of
inquiry. Second, the research also provides a modest beginning at developing a better
understanding of the complexities of teacher education, and sets out a number of findings
that could become part of a curriculum for teacher preparation. Third, a shift has become
evident in who conducts research in the area. At one time, those in universities undertook
research and those in schools used the findings. That gap has narrowed in a number of
cases, and we now see collaborative projects involving both school and university people.
The proposed institute would seek to take advantage of such opportunities.
A number of contextual factors also support the establishment of an institute aimed
at increasing the quality and quantity of research undertaken in areas pertaining directly to
teacher education. The original mission behind establishing faculties of education involved
preparing teachers. Despite that mission, many faculty members in education do not direct
their research efforts at questions dealing with teacher preparation, or work directly with
preparing teachers. A faculty member in a neighbouring institution,who recently described
the teacher education program in his university, observed that over a ten year period teacher
education in that faculty had drifted into the hands of graduate students and sessional
appointments with virtually no tenure tract faculty involved. An institute such as the one
proposed would signal our commitment to encourage research into the area central to the
mission of our faculty and assist those working in teacher education to better connect their
teaching and research.
The situation within the faculty at Simon Fraser also supports the formation of a
research institute. Recently, the Executive of the faculty has taken a policy decision that
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would encourage faculty and faculty associates working in the modules which make up the
Professional Development Program to undertake research as part of their work in preparing
teachers. However, many of those working in modular groups undertake that assignment
for short periods of time and may come to that experience not having engaged in research
into this area before. The proposed institute would provide support to those who run the
modular groups to undertake research in the area.
The present situation in this province points to the need for those in faculties of
education to better understand the issues and policy implications arising from an increased
interest in the preparation of teachers on the part of policy makers and the general-public.
In this province, the College of Teachers, which have been given the power to certify
teachers, has undertaken a review of teacher education. We can expect an ongoing interest
by this group in teacher education in the province to continue after the review is complete.
We can also expect that such organizations will be prepared to work with faculties of
education in an ongoing examination of issues pertaining to teacher education preparation.
Such developments, both in this province and elsewhere, require research into several areas
such that we can maintain a full understanding of the issues and implications of proposed
developments. The establishment of this institute would be one step in this direction.
Given this background, the proposed institute, aimed at promoting research in
teacher education, will have the following objectives:
(a) To nurture and coordinate at Simon Fraser a community of scholars dedicated to
research in teacher education;
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(b) To work to establish a research agenda around questions in teacher education
and the growing body of literature in the area;
(c) To seek funding to support these research efforts;
(d)
To provide support to faculty and faculty associates within the modular groups
who wish to undertake projects of inquiry as part of their work in the
Professional Development Program;
(e)
To build collaborative links with groups both within and outside the faculty of
education; and,
(f)
To report research findings in such a manner as to enhance the scholarly
reputation of the participants and the university.
Achieving these objectives.
The plan for the institute involves three types of initiatives around technical, social
and conceptual lines to achieve these objectives. Technically, we plan to establish
secretarial support as well as a computer data base consisting of key papers and major
works in teacher education. A small collection of selected key titles will be maintained for
circulation.
Efforts will be made to build a community of scholars around the shared interests of
research into teacher education, which becomes the social side of the institute. Membership
in that community requires an interest in doing research into some aspect of teacher
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education and a willingness to participate in colloquia and lunch hour seminars.
lei
The third initiative is a conceptual one. It involves working to maintain an ongoing
research agenda which identifies, through occasional papers, the areas of research that
appear most productive and the key questions which guide those areas. These three
initiatives provide the basis for achieving the objectives set out in this proposal.
Governance.
Each year, the Director and two members from the institute will meet with the Dean
and her/his representatives from the faculty to present a financial report and an outline of
the activities and achievements for the past year.
References
Houston, W.R. (ed) (1990) Handbook of research on teacher education. New York:
MacMillan.
Tisher, R.P. & Wideen, MR, Eds. (1990). Research in teacher education: International
perspectives. London: Falmer Press.
Submitted by: Wideen, Grimmett, Scott and MacKinnon
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Internal Governance. The Director of the Institute will work closely with a steering
committee which will include charter members as well as others who may be appointed to
that committee from time to time. At least once each year, the director will report to a
faculty forum for feedback and advise on projects and activities. That report will normally
follow the annual report to the Dean, described in the attached document.
Founding Members
Dr. Marvin
F. Wideen
Dr. Peter Grimmett
Dr. Judith Scott
Dr. Allan MacKinnon
MW:nr
Enclosure
C
I.
