Developing Leadership through Cultural Understanding in an Urban Science Community of Practice
This chapter describes the experience of becoming a leader in an urban science education community outside my country of origin and in this process of becoming a leader, using a community of practice (CoP) to develop science teacher leaders in the urban classrooms. The chapter weaves the story of my border crossings and my CoP with the border crossings and CoPs of urban teachers. It is through these CoPs that our leadership has been fostered and enacted. The leadership activity that is found later in the chapter describes ways that have been successful for me in developing leadership in teachers. The response to that activity highlights the value of CoPs to help participants understand the complexity of border crossings.
Keywords
Professional Development Science Education Preservice Teacher Science Teacher Inservice TeacherPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
- Aikenhead, G. S., & Jegede, O. J. (1999). Cross-cultural science education: A cognitive explanation of a cultural phenomenon. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36(3), 269–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Beach, K. (1999). Consequential transitions: A socio-cultural expedition beyond transfer in education. Review of Research in Education, 24, 101–139.Google Scholar
- Bell, B., & Gilbert, J. (1996). Teacher development: A model from science education. London: Falmer.Google Scholar
- Cabello, B., & Burstein, N. (1995). Examining teachers beliefs about teaching in culturally diverse classrooms. Journal of Teacher Education, 46(4), 285–294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Costa, V. B. (1995). When science is “another world”: Relationships between worlds of family, friends, school and science. Science Education, 79, 313–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Dempsey, R. (1992).Teachers as leaders: Towards a conceptual framework. Teaching Education, 5(1), 113–120.Google Scholar
- Delgado-Gaitan, C. (1996). Protean literacy: Extending the discourse on empowerment. Washington, DC: Falmer Press.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1985). Development, implementation and evaluation of the science – A process approach for Trinidad and Tobago [SAPATT] science curriculum. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 258 834)Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1987a). The development of primary science education in Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Curriculum, 1(1), 55–67.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1987b). Primary science teaching training project. Liverpool, England: Commonwealth Secretariat/UNESCO.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1988a). Sourcebook of science education research in the Caribbean. (Science and Technology Education Document Series, No. 26). Paris, France: UNESCO.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1988b). Primary science teacher training for process based learning. Barbados: Commonwealth Secretariat/UNESCO.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (1989). Science education research in the Caribbean: Retrospect and prospect. Studies in Science Education, 16, 219–227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (2001). Preparing science teachers for culturally diverse classrooms. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 12(3), 287–313.Google Scholar
- Fraser-Abder, P. (2002). Professional development of science teachers: Local insights with lessons for the global community. New York: Rutledge Falmer.Google Scholar
- Giroux, H. A. (1992). Border crossings: Cultural workers and the politics of education. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.Google Scholar
- Hodson, D. (1992). Towards a framework for multicultural education. Curriculum, 13, 15–18.Google Scholar
- Howe, A. C., & Stubbs. H. S. (2003). From science teacher to teacher leader: Leadership development as meaning making in a community of practice. Science Education, 87, 281–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Katzenmeyer, M., & Moller, G. (1996). Awakening the sleeping giant: Leadership development for teachers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.Google Scholar
- Koch, J. (2002). Coping with feelings of fraudulence. In J. Cooper & D. Stevens (Eds.), Tenure in the sacred grove (pp. 107–116). Albany, NY: SUNY Press.Google Scholar
- Lambert, L. (1995). Toward a theory of constructivist leadership. In L. Lambert, D. Walker, D. Zimmerman, J. Cooper, M. Lambert, M. Gardner, & P. Slack (Eds.), The constructivist leader (pp. 28–51). New York: Teachers College Press.Google Scholar
- Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
- Palus, C., & Drath, W. (1995). Evolving leaders: A model for promoting leadership development in programs. Greensboro, NC: Center for Creative Leadership.Google Scholar
- Rothstein-Fisch, C., & Trumbull, E. (2008). Managing diverse classrooms: How to build on students’ cultural strengths. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Developments.Google Scholar
- Shanker, A. (1987). Teachers as school leaders. American Teacher, 71, 5.Google Scholar
- Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning and identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar