In-Service Teacher Education

Introduction

In-service teacher education fits broadly under the category of teacher professional development. Teacher professional development can be divided into two branches – (1) in-service teacher education and (2) professional learning communities. In-service teacher education is usually formal in nature with courses or programs offered and accredited by universities or other institutes of learning. Unlike preservice teacher education that aims to prepare inexperienced individuals to teach in classrooms, in-service teacher education is specifically catered to practicing teachers with practical experiences in the classrooms. One of the objectives for in-service teacher education is to ensure currency of knowledge that teachers have in their field of practice. These knowledges can include subject matter knowledge, knowledge of and about latest pedagogical methods, and knowledge about policies and reforms.

Teaching is a complex activity that changes with the demands of the society...