Crossing boundaries: A framework for impact and collaborative redesign of school and teacher education

Crossing boundaries: A framework for impact and collaborative redesign of school and teacher education

Core elements

Core elements

Introduction

The framework in 1' What is it? Whose that for? Why it matters?

Signature Pedagogies

Collective Action

Types identified

Our example

Case examples

Tips

Why it matters

Why it matters

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EACEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Building on Hordvik and Beni (2024), and enriched through iterative cycles of practitioner inquiry across the project, we have identified three categories of signature pedagogies: 1. (Auto)biographical Pedagogies These pedagogies centre on storytelling, self-reflection, and critical dialogue. Teacher educators and learners engage with personal and professional narratives—vision documents, life histories, and vignettes—to surface tacit beliefs and understand the evolution of pedagogical identities. 2. Experiential Pedagogies These involve immersive, embodied learning opportunities in authentic contexts. Examples include school placements, peer teaching, and “living the curriculum” approaches. These pedagogies prioritize learning by doing, often situated in real-time practice and guided reflection. 3. Pedagogies of Professional Learning These foster inquiry, collaboration, and co-construction of knowledge in groups with shared professional goals. Drawing from models such as Communities of Practice (CoPs) and action/practitioner research, these pedagogies create spaces for collective reflection and innovation.

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👩🏽‍🏫 Signature pedagogies are the characteristic forms of teaching by which practitioners are prepared for their future professions. 🌏 Shulman (2005) argued that signature pedagogies are both pervasive and routine, cutting across topics and courses, programs and institutions. 🧠 In the context of physical education teacher education and continuous professional development, they are the forms of teaching-learning that leap to mind when thinking about the preparation and continuous support of teachers in the field of physical education across contexts.

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Signature pedagogies are based on three core elements or layers: 🧱 1. Surface Structure – What it looks like This is the visible, practical side of teaching—what’s happening in the classroom. 🔍 2. Deep Structure – What it helps to learn This is about the thinking behind the method. What kind of learning does it aim to support? 💡 3. Implicit Structure – Why it matters This is the hidden layer: the values, attitudes, and mindsets it nurtures.

Signature pedagogies matter because they fundamentally shape how teachers become professionals—not only through what they learn, but through how they learn. By identifying and purposefully applying these pedagogies, the framework empowers teacher educators to move beyond fragmented methods toward a cohesive, reflective, and evidence-informed approach to learning. Importantly, these do not prescribe a single way to teach teachers. Instead, it identifies a set of pedagogical forms that are flexible, relational, and deeply tied to authentic learning. These signature pedagogies are adaptable across national contexts, educational levels, and institutional cultures. They offer a common language and conceptual foundation that can guide innovation in teacher education globally.

🌍 1. Learning from Each Other Across BordersWe brought together educators from different countries to share stories, compare challenges, and exchange smart ideas. This helped us learn what works in different places—and how we can adapt it locally. 🤝 2. Connecting Schools & Universities Instead of working in separate worlds, schools and teacher education programs teamed up. This created a two-way street where research, teaching, and policy could inform and strengthen each other. 🧠 3. Co-Creating in Teams We formed diverse teams of teachers, educators, and sometimes even student teachers. Together, they explored new ideas, tested out practices, and helped shape this very framework through real-world insights.

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What is collective action?

In simple terms: We believe real change in education happens when people work together—not in isolation or from the top down. Instead of... 📤 Reforms being handed down from above, 🧱 Or everyone working in their own bubble... We focus on... 🤝 People from different countries, schools, and universities 🧠 Learning from each other 💡 Sharing ideas 🔧 Creating new ways of teaching—together! This is more than just teamwork. It’s about: ✔ Building trust ✔ Valuing everyone’s strengths ✔ Finding solutions that make sense locally and internationally

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🎯 Start with Shared Values Begin by asking: What do we care about? Why are we doing this? Defining your purpose together sets a strong foundation, and checking in on it regularly keeps everyone on track. 🛡️ Create Safe, Respectful Spaces Real dialogue needs trust. Make it okay to ask questions, share doubts, and even disagree. This matters even more when working across cultures and languages. 🤗 Make Time for Human Connection Strong relationships fuel great teamwork. Build in time to chat, reflect, and celebrate, even the small wins! 🌱 Welcome Different Levels of Involvement Not everyone can give the same thing at the same time. Create flexible ways for people to contribute based on their context and capacity. 🔥 Bring the Right Energy Beyond roles and tasks, successful collaboration needs attitude. Be open, curious, and supportive. A little enthusiasm goes a long way.

This way of working together isn’t just about improving physical education, it’s a powerful approach for teacher education in any subject.By focusing on shared learning, collaboration, and real-world problem-solving, it helps teachers grow through active engagement—not just passive training. In today’s fast-changing world, where schools face big challenges like climate, health, and inequality, this collective approach gives us a flexible and fair way to build stronger, smarter education systems—together.