Leading transformation in ITE teaching within the EI consortium

Interdisciplinary teaching and learning has become a key aspect in developing innovative 21st century education. Ofsted and OECD stress the importance of using knowledge across disciplines when solving current global problems and trying to answer Big Questions. Epistemic insight or ‘knowledge about knowledge’, and how disciplines work and interact, is an effective and innovative pedagogy to develop knowledge about nature of disciplines, critical thinking and effective use of knowledge across them. The Epistemic Insight (EI) consortium was formed and developed as a part of Epistemic Insight Initiative in 2019 and has grown to a collaboration of 10 universities providing initial teacher education (ITE). The consortium partners have co-created research and research-informed, interactive teaching and learning resources to aid a holistic approach to Big Questions and solving real-world problems. As consortium leader, I will share my experience of leading this transformation, as well as research findings gathered collectively through working with tutors and ITE students across the consortium (Primary and Secondary). The research within the consortium has led to the development of EI among teacher trainees through participation in a variety of innovative workshops. The presentation will share successful examples of implementation of EI into ITE curricula, using bespoke strategies and resources, which developed teachers’ EI, curiosity, critical thinking and appreciation of how linking sciences with humanities may inform our thinking