Is it time to take stock of Alexander Teacher education? Research offers the means whereby.
The ASO newsletter - helping you stay connected to Alexander Technique related research.
The ASO Newsletter - 21st Edition
In this 21st edition of the ASO newsletter, Terry Fitzgerald Ph.D., MAusSTAT shares his insights and thoughts about Alexander Technique teacher training with Charlotte Woods Ph.D., of the ASO Team.
In 2007, Terry completed a doctoral thesis that examined AT teacher education in the first decade of the millennium and offered a critique and recommendations. Today, technological advances combined with the Covid-19 pandemic have brought about new practices in AT teaching and teacher education that were unimaginable in 2007, and arguably make some of the key questions raised in his thesis more relevant than ever.
Over the course of three video interviews (below), Terry argues that this wholesale disruption represents a real opportunity for the AT community to re-examine habitual ways of doing things, and that research provides a starting point in developing future AT teaching and teacher education pedagogy.
Is it time to take stock of Alexander Teacher education? Research offers the means whereby - personal reflections of Terry Fitzgerald
Terry Fitzgerald PhD, MAusSTAT, and Charlotte Woods
Introduction - Terry’s Background
In the first video above, Charlotte invites Terry to tell us about his background and how he came to the Alexander Technique and his subsequent Alexander journey.
Part I - Time for new research on teacher training methods?
In the second video (above), Terry suggests that well-designed research should be undertaken so we might take the opportunity to explore our current teacher training methods.
Part II - How training programs have the potential to inform research and future directions of Alexander Technique training.
In the third video above, Charlotte and Terry discuss how a more research-led approach to teacher training might work and encourage existing teachers and trainees to carry out relevant research so we can build up a useable dataset to inform our practice. Terry also puts out a call for anyone undertaking a Masters or PhD that includes the Alexander Technique, to let him know so he can add it to his ever-growing database of relevant theses.
References:
Find Terry's thesis in the ASO Alexander Technique research database here.
To download and read Terry’s open access thesis please click here: Fitzgerald, T F (2007) The future of Alexander Technique teacher education: principles, practices and professionalism.
About: Terry Fitzgerald trained as an Alexander Technique teacher in London after leaving Sydney on a working holiday in the late 1970s. When he returned to Sydney in 1980, he was the only AT teacher working in Australia but by 1985 had joined with other teachers to set up an AT training school employing a system of rotating directors from London. Terry started his own training school in 1996, which he ran for 11 years while furthering his academic studies: a Masters in Adult Education followed by the completion of a doctorate in 2007. Terry continues to combine his AT commitments with education scholarship, and contributes to teaching and research in education at the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Thank You
Thank you for being here and for your interest in research on the Alexander Technique and its teaching. Special thanks to Terry Fitzgerald for his contribution to this post, and to Charlotte Woods for all her work. To all community members who have contributed to ASO so far, your work is appreciated and making a difference!
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