The use of communities for the professional development of teacher educators

In the introductory chapter we have introduced the many forms and processes through which teacher educators engage in continued professional learning, the communal model being one model which has gained popularity in recent years. This is the model that we explore in depth in this book. Its popularity stems from much evidence regarding its capacity to advance professional learning. As such, communal learning is thought to be more significant than the traditional form of professional development (Darling-Hammond, Wei, Andree, Richardson, & Orphanos, 2009; Lieberman & Mace, 2008).