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School-based Partnerships in Teacher Education

A Research Informed Model for Universities, Schools and Beyond

  • Proposes a partnership model that provides a language to describe, negotiate, maintain and evaluate partnerships in learning-related contexts

  • Provides in-depth examples of partnership theory in practice with evidence-based principles

  • Explores the value of different types of partnerships for differing needs and purposes

  • Provides descriptive interpretations of different stages and types of partnership to guide practice

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Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. Framing the STEPS Project: Partnership Theory and Practice

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Theory and Practice: The Context of Partnerships in Teacher Education

      • John Kenny, Mellita Jones, Christopher Speldewinde
      Pages 3-19
    3. Science Teacher Education Partnerships with Schools (STEPS)

      • Andrew Gilbert, Sandra Herbert
      Pages 21-37
    4. Models of School-Based Practice: Partnerships in Practice

      • Coral Campbell, Gail Chittleborough, Andrew Gilbert, Linda Hobbs, Mellita Jones, John Kenny et al.
      Pages 39-57
  3. STEPS Interpretive Framework as a Partnership Model

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 59-59
    2. Linking Theory and Practice Through Partnerships

      • Gail Chittleborough, Mellita Jones
      Pages 61-82
    3. Representing Partnerships Practices

      • Christine Redman, Coral Campbell
      Pages 83-97
    4. Growing University–School Partnerships

      • Mellita Jones, Gail Chittleborough
      Pages 99-122
    5. Growing Through Partnerships

      • Linda Hobbs, Coral Campbell
      Pages 139-167
    6. Sustaining School–University Partnerships: Threats, Challenges and Critical Success Factors

      • Sandra Herbert, Christine Redman, Christopher Speldewinde
      Pages 169-189
  4. Application of the Partnership Model in Other Contexts

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 191-192
    2. Teacher Education at Trinity University Meets the STEPS Interpretive Framework

      • Shari Albright, Angela Breidenstein, Josephine Ryan
      Pages 193-207
    3. A New Zealand Collaborative University–School Partnership: Applying the STEPS Framework

      • Beverley Cooper, Bronwen Cowie, Coral Campbell
      Pages 209-218
    4. Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools: CSIRO, Australia

      • Coral Campbell, Russell Tytler
      Pages 247-257
    5. Case Studies Exploring the Applicability of the STEPS Interpretive Framework in Other Professions

      • John Kenny, Christopher Speldewinde, Annette Marlow, Ian Parsons
      Pages 259-269
    6. Visionary Practice

      • Linda Hobbs, John Kenny
      Pages 271-285

About this book

This book demonstrates school-based approaches to primary science teacher education. The models used involve partnerships between universities and primary schools to engage pre-service primary teachers in classroom teaching and learning that effectively connects theory with practice separate to the formal practicum arrangements. The book is a culmination of the research and collaboration of researchers from five Australian universities involved in the Science Teacher Education Partnerships with Schools (STEPS) project, funded by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching.

While the STEPS project focused on partnerships in primary science teacher education, a key strength of the partnership model (the STEPS Interpretive Framework) developed and explored in this book is its applicability for cross-case, national, international, and inter-state analyses of partnership practices. This is shown through a number of case studies where the STEPS Interpretive Framework is applied and evaluated in the context of other school- or learning-related partnerships. These broad-ranging analyses illustrate the relevance of the model to a range of settings, both within and outside of education.



Editors and Affiliations

  • Deakin University, Geelong, Australia

    Linda Hobbs, Coral Campbell

  • Australian Catholic University, Ballarat, Australia

    Mellita Jones

About the editors

Linda Hobbs is an Associate Professor in Science Education at Deakin University. She teaches primary science education in the Bachelor of Education Course, and coordinates a fourth year science education unit that is solely based in schools. She also teaches science communication to science and engineering students. Her research interests include partnerships in primary teacher education, out-of-field teaching in secondary schools, and STEM education. She was the leader the Science Teacher Education Partnerships with Schools (STEPS) Project (2013-2014, funded by the Office for Learning and Teaching). 


Coral Campbell is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, Deakin University, Australia. Coral’s research interests are in early childhood and primary science, design technology, and environmental education, and particularly focuses on practitioner learning and children’s understandings. She is on review panels for several international journals and is currently involved in a number of large federally funded projects. Coral has contributed to, and co-edited, the first Australian text for pre-service early childhood educators, Science in Early Childhood (Cambridge University Press). 


Mellita Jones is a lecturer at Australian Catholic University’s Ballarat campus where she teaches Science Teacher Education and is the Deputy Head of School for the Ballarat campus. Her research is concerned with effective teacher education, where her focus has been on school-university partnerships, reflective practice and authentic uses of technology for personalising learning. Her recent work has involved school-based approaches to science teacher education and practicum partnerships for rural and regional teacher education courses. She also has an interest in working with teachers in the Pacific region and has had significant involvement in the Solomon Islands.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: School-based Partnerships in Teacher Education

  • Book Subtitle: A Research Informed Model for Universities, Schools and Beyond

  • Editors: Linda Hobbs, Coral Campbell, Mellita Jones

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1795-8

  • Publisher: Springer Singapore

  • eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-981-13-1794-1Published: 23 August 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-981-13-4687-3Published: 29 December 2018

  • eBook ISBN: 978-981-13-1795-8Published: 14 August 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIX, 285

  • Number of Illustrations: 14 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Teaching and Teacher Education, Professional & Vocational Education, Learning & Instruction, Science Education

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access