Crisis and opportunity in teacher preparation in the pandemic: exploring the “adjacent possible”
Journal of Professional Capital and Community
ISSN: 2056-9548
Article publication date: 23 October 2020
Issue publication date: 25 November 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper draws on Kauffman's theory of the “adjacent possible” to make sense of the practices which have emerged in response to school and university closures in Hong Kong and reflects on what opportunities exist in this current global crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper drew on qualitative data from two emergent practices – the e-practicum and co-teaching on an online platform – in a teacher preparation program at the University of Hong Kong. The data set included online teaching resources produced by student teachers (STs), reflections from STs, feedback from mentors and university tutors, interactions on an online platform and interviews with co-teaching team members.
Findings
The authors found “emergent practices” were developed in response to the pandemic by pushing the boundaries of existing practices and exploring the opportunities hovering at the edges of the possible. These practices were still evolving, but they contained elements that can morph into innovative practices in teacher preparation.
Originality/value
This paper provides a perspective on where opportunity in a crisis can be found and what innovation means in an educational context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank their colleagues, Annie Chan and Anthony Cheng, for sharing their reflections on co-teaching. The authors also wish to thank the student teachers for sharing their reflections with us and the mentors and school heads who have provided tremendous support to student teachers during this unprecedented difficult time.
Citation
Tsui, A.B.M., Chan, C.K.K., Harfitt, G. and Leung, P. (2020), "Crisis and opportunity in teacher preparation in the pandemic: exploring the “adjacent possible”", Journal of Professional Capital and Community, Vol. 5 No. 3/4, pp. 237-245. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-07-2020-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited