Browsing by Author "Haimi, Eveliina"

Teacher education became a university degree education 1974 as it replaced former seminar based education. Scientific transformation in teacher education has meant a change in teacher’s status towards a more scientific and specialist profession. This has raised both support and criticism considering the connection between academic teacher education and teacher’s work reality. In this study, I will discuss how teacher education has changed to academic university education and how it has affected to teacher’s profession. Also, I will touch upon the connection between academic teacher education and teacher’s work reality. This study is a literature review. Studies that I have used are based on both Finnish and English educational studies considering teacher education’s academic development, academic credibility and teachers’ job and the nature of the work. Finland’s educational system is highly appreciated both domestically and abroad. This can be seen as a result of a four-decade academic development process. Due to this process, teacher’s occupation is now regarded as a high educated profession. Teachers have pedagogical freedom in their work. Furthermore, their work is highly trusted by both students’ parents and the society. Research orientated education has had its own influence on the highly respected teacher status in our society. On the other hand, the academic and research orientated education has faced some criticism. The possible diverge between teacher education and teacher’s work reality has been criticized. Also, the academic credibility of teacher education has been under a continuous inspection.