What is the Difference Between Teacher Training and Teacher Education?

The main difference between teacher training and teacher education lies in their focus and objectives. Here are the key distinctions between the two:

• Teacher Training:
• Focuses on the practical work, skills, and performance of a teacher in a classroom.
• Involves learning real-life classroom situations and improving performance.
• Usually results in recognized accreditation, granting successful candidates a certificate and the right to put letters after their names (e.g., PGCE, RSA Dip.TEFLA).
• Refers to the acquisition of skills to obtain specific goals in real-life classroom situations, aiming to improve the performance of teachers.
• Teacher Education:
• Focuses on methodologies and theoretical work.
• Includes the study of one or more academic disciplines, as well as the philosophy and history of education, curriculum, and pedagogy.
• Aims to develop abilities, attitudes, and other forms of behavior of positive value in the society in which the teacher lives.
• Encompasses not just a teacher's vocational training (pre-service training or subsequent in-service training) but also their general post-secondary education.

In summary, teacher training is more centered on the practical aspects of teaching, while teacher education involves the theoretical and methodological foundations of teaching. Both aspects are essential for a well-rounded teacher preparation program.

Comparative Table: Teacher Training vs Teacher Education

The difference between teacher training and teacher education can be summarized as follows:

Teacher training involves the acquisition of concrete skills for meeting specific goals in real-life, applied situations, often including closed skills like typing or juggling. On the other hand, teacher education refers to more abstract concepts, focusing on the development of professional knowledge and the understanding of educational principles and methodologies. Both teacher training and teacher education are essential components of preparing individuals for a career in teaching, as they complement each other in providing a well-rounded education for aspiring teachers.