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Examining the Phenomenon of “Teaching Out-of-field” pp 3–20Cite as

Teaching Out-of-Field as a Phenomenon and Research Problem

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Abstract

Teacher specialisations ensure that teachers have the specialised knowledge to teach in that subject, or year level. They provide a sense of identity, and help to organise teachers around common commitments and expertise. What happens for teachers who find themselves teaching a subject or level or which they are not specialised? While we know about teaching out-of-field from practice and research, there is a need to share and learn from each other in a way that respects international differences in how this phenomenon is understood and manifested. This chapter has three intentions: to highlight the significance of teaching out-of-field as a phenomenon and a research problem; summarise the dimensions and issues associated with out-of-field teaching; and provide a rationale for taking an international perspective on examining the out-of-field phenomenon.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The TAS Collective is a group of researchers and practitioners with an interest in sharing and exploring issues relating to the out-of-field phenomenon.

  2. 2.

    The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) asks teachers and school leaders about working conditions and learning environments at their schools.

  3. 3.

    The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) examines the performance of 15-year old students of science, mathematics and reading.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

    Linda Hobbs

  2. University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

    Günter Törner

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  1. Linda Hobbs
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  2. Günter Törner
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Correspondence to Linda Hobbs .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Deakin University , Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia

    Linda Hobbs

  2. University of Duisburg-Essen , Duisburg, Germany

    Günter Törner

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Hobbs, L., Törner, G. (2019). Teaching Out-of-Field as a Phenomenon and Research Problem. In: Hobbs, L., Törner, G. (eds) Examining the Phenomenon of “Teaching Out-of-field”. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3366-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3366-8_1

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