New kindergarten teachers' career development trajectories in China : A problem-solving perspective
- Authors: Wan, Dan , Gu, Rongfang , McLachlan, Claire
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australasian Journal of Early Childhood Vol. 45, no. 3 (2020), p. 228-240
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Since the 1960s, concerns for beginning teachers have attracted extensive attention. High attrition rates among beginning teachers have been an international challenge, which is costly for a nation's budget. To improve the retention of new teachers, it is imperative to understand what beginning teachers have experienced in their professional practice. This qualitative research examined the career development trajectories of beginning kindergarten teachers in China. The experiences of 23 kindergarten teachers from Nanjing were investigated through semi-structured interviews. Using grounded theory, this research identified four main themes and four career development trajectories. Themes include orientation, mastery, re-examination and self-validation, while career development trajectories reveal that teacher career development is not unilinear, but diverse. These findings are crucial in raising the awareness of researchers and practitioners about the diversities and possibilities of teacher career development trajectories. Further implications for researchers, teacher educators and kindergarten teachers are discussed.
- Description: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was funded by MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Project of Humanities and Social Sciences (Grant Number: 17YJA880025), The 13th Five-year Plan for Educational Science in Jiangsu Province (Grant Number: B-a/2016/01/34), and Excellent Preschool Teacher Preparation Program of MOE.
What industry wants : Employers' preferences for training
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Kemmis, Ros Brennan
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education and Training Vol. 52, no. 3 (2010), p. 214-225
- Full Text:
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- Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse what retail and hospitality industry employers want from training and trainers. Design/methodology/approach: The research project was undertaken for Service Skills Australia, the Australian Industry Skills Council that oversees formal training for a range of service industries in Australia. The paper utilises data from focus groups and telephone interviews with representatives of the retail and hospitality industries, and telephone interviews with staff of the relevant UK Sector Skills Councils, to provide international benchmarking for the issues raised. Findings: Results showed that, while industry representatives stated that they prioritised industry skills and knowledge above education skills and knowledge, a complex mixture of the two was required, which was generally felt to be lacking. Curriculum for training was also perceived to be deficient, despite Training packages having been developed in consultation with industry. A comparison with the UK interviews with senior staff at the UK Skills Councils for the two industries showed similar issues and suggested some possible ways forward for Australia. Originality/value: The paper provides three major areas where improvement in VET training and trainers would be welcome and gives useful initiatives for improvement in those areas. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse what retail and hospitality industry employers want from training and trainers. Design/methodology/approach: The research project was undertaken for Service Skills Australia, the Australian Industry Skills Council that oversees formal training for a range of service industries in Australia. The paper utilises data from focus groups and telephone interviews with representatives of the retail and hospitality industries, and telephone interviews with staff of the relevant UK Sector Skills Councils, to provide international benchmarking for the issues raised. Findings: Results showed that, while industry representatives stated that they prioritised industry skills and knowledge above education skills and knowledge, a complex mixture of the two was required, which was generally felt to be lacking. Curriculum for training was also perceived to be deficient, despite Training packages having been developed in consultation with industry. A comparison with the UK interviews with senior staff at the UK Skills Councils for the two industries showed similar issues and suggested some possible ways forward for Australia. Originality/value: The paper provides three major areas where improvement in VET training and trainers would be welcome and gives useful initiatives for improvement in those areas. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
Critically engaged community capacity building and the 'community organizing' approach in disadvantaged contexts
- Authors: Smyth, John
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Critical Studies in Education Vol. 50, no. 1 (2009), p. 9-22
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP0665569
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper critiques the notion of community capacity building (CCB) and the way it is increasingly being invoked in social policy as a way of tackling disadvantage. The paper argues that CCB and a number if its derivative terms are not as straightforward as they appear. Superficially, CCB presents as a useful way of approaching school and community reform in contexts of disadvantage, but closer analysis reveals it to be pre-disposed to deployment as a cover under which to blame schools and communities, while handing over responsibility. What is posited as an alternative is a 'community organizing' approach that is more political, activist, and attuned to providing forms of analysis and leadership skills with which communities and schools can begin to tackle some of the underlying conditions producing the debilitating inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Critical Studies in Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
- Description: 2003007956
A semester with a Dr Fox : The need to go beyond SETs
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: e-Journal of Business Education & Scholarship of Teaching Vol. 2, no. 1 (2008), p. 21-27
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Most higher education institutions use some form of Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) in order to gather information to gauge teaching performance and unit suitability. The value of SETs has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly in light of the Dr Fox study, which indicated that students are assessing charisma more than content. Similar results to the earlier study were found by the author during the process of moderating a teaching unit with a Dr Fox who had received good student feedback, and yet turned out to have poor subject. Most higher education institutions use some form of Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) in order to gather information to gauge teaching performance and unit suitability. The value of SETs has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly in light of the Dr Fox study, which indicated that students are assessing charisma more than content.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003006038
Critical ethnography for school and community renewal around social class differences affecting learning
- Authors: Smyth, John , Angus, Lawrence , Down, Barry , McInerney, Peter
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Learning communities Vol. 3, no. (2006), p. 121-152
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Understanding and exploring complex and protracted social questions requires sophisticated investigative approaches. In this article we intend looking at a research approach capable of providing a better understanding of what is going on in schools, students and communities in "exceptionally challenging contexts" (Harris et al., 2006)-code for schools and communities that have as a result of wider social forces, been historically placed in situations of disadvantage.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001884
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships in Australia
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Wilson, Lou
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education + Training Vol. 46, no. 2 (2004), p. 64-74
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In Australia, as in many other countries, initiatives are constantly being developed which aim to assist school students’ transition into work. One such initiative, which was introduced towards the end of the 1990s, was the introduction of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, often referred to by the umbrella term “school-based new apprenticeships” (SBNAs). Students taking part in these programs, normally in the final two years of schooling (Years 11 and 12), combine part-time work, study towards a vocational education and training (VET) qualification, and normal attendance at school. This paper reports on the first large-scale research study of school-based apprentices and trainees, which was carried out in late 2001 through a survey of students involved in the programs. The survey was carried out in the three Australian States with the highest numbers of school-based apprentices and trainees, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The paper commences with a description of the nature of school-based apprenticeships and a description of their introduction and rapid growth. It then gives an overview of the young people’s jobs, their learning and training, and concludes by discussing four problematic areas.
- Description: 2003008056
Understanding changing conceptions of work: Implications for development of training initiatives
- Authors: Lankshear, Colin , Pillay, Hitebdra , Boulton-Lewis, Gillian
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Vocational Education Research Vol. 10, no. 2 (2002), p. 27-44
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Considering the enormous changes in work practices and associated training required to address the needs of new practices, there has been very little research undertaken that attempts to describe how workers perceive these changes. This paper reports on the findings of 40 participants aged over 40 years of age, who were interviewed and observed to obtain data concerning their conceptions of work with regard to the changes occurring around them. The participants were from a medical service and an engineering organisation. The data were analysed qualitatively to investigate workers' conceptions of work. Results indicate four hierarchical conceptions of work, with the distribution of the participants' conceptions more towards the lower levels. The conceptions provide baseline data to understand workers' behaviour in light of current changes in work practices.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000040
Schools and communities put at a disadvantage : Relational power, resistance, boundary work and capacity building in educational identity formation
- Authors: Smyth, John
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Learning communities Vol. 3, no. (2006), p. 7-39
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper is a modest exercise in theory building from a cultural sociological perspective, around the notion of capacity building as it relates to a group of schools and their community experiencing complex intergenerational difficulties around poverty, ill health, housing problems, student disengagement, disaffection, low levels of school completion, and high levels of withdrawal from school. Central to what I want to explore is the notion of capacity building, which is a term that has its origins in development economics, and is currently experiencing celebrity status as a kind of buzz word to refer to multi-fronted approaches to school and community improvement.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001886
Using Smartphones and Facebook in a Major Assessment: The student experience
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: e-Journal of Business Education & Scholarship of Teaching Vol. 4, no. 1 (2010), p. 19-31
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the use of an alternative form of assessment employing new technology, such as smartphones and Facebook which are two modern tools that are rapidly increasing in popularity and application in the business environment. Design/methodology/approach – This paper adopts an experimental approach to examine whether these technologies could not only provide students with relevant skills but also increase their learning experience. Research findings and implications – Eleven out of the 12 students reported that the use of smartphones and Facebook increased their motivation, independent learning and sense of responsibility.The implications from this paper are that integrating new technologies into assessment was beneficial to students who had experience with the new technology, however, not all students were capable of using the technology and this requires further work when implementing new technology.
Christian students' views on terrorism and religion : An Australian study
- Authors: Fisher, John
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Christian Education Vol. 46, no. 2 (2004), p. 45-56
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000842
The development of employer training in Australia
- Authors: Smith, Andy
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education and Training Vol. 48, no. 4 (2006), p. 252-261
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the statistical evidence for the extent of employer training in Australia and analyse this information in the light of three major qualitative projects that have been undertaken into employer training since the mid-1990s.
- Description: 2003007198
Tourism skills delivery : Sharing tourism knowledge online
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , Hollick, Mary
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education and Training Vol. 48, no. 8-9 (2006), p. 693-703
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to share the authors' initial insights into tourism industry capacity building via flexibly delivered online skilling and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach - An online research survey approach was employed, involving a sample of 64 micro tourism operators. Findings - The paper finds that the major benefits perceived by operators across the pilot region, were the time saving aspects demonstrated in the smart form concept. Operators were also drawn in by the best practise examples and direct links to the online resources to bring and keep them up to date with industry information and developments. Research limitations/implications - The data presented in this paper represent initial findings of the pilot project. The project has since been completed. Practical implications - The model used for the pilot in this paper has been adopted by the Tourism Accreditation Board of Victoria and is now being considered for national rollout across Australia. The model is a practical and replicable capacity building model for micro tourism operators anywhere. Originality/value - The paper adopts a collaborative learning network approach to micro business capacity building and training.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001777
Plagiarism : Academic dishonesty or "Blind Spot" of multicultural education?
- Authors: Song-Turner, Helen
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Universities Review Vol. 50, no. 2 (2008), p. 39-50
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: A brief narrative description of the journal article, document, or resource. One of the issues facing universities operating in a range of market situations and contexts is that of plagiarism. Different universities have taken different approaches in dealing with this issue. In an Australian university context, this issue is of particular concern, given the large numbers of overseas students studying in Australia, and offshore in Australian administered programmes such as in China and India. It is also an issue in a climate where students increasingly see themselves as consumers with increased rights, power, status and legal standing (Onsman, 2008). Students from a number of countries were interviewed for this paper, to identify their own views about plagiarism. The study found that there were several reasons why students tended to plagiarise and these included challenges of language, skill and respect for "the foreign expert". What emerges from this paper is a complex and at times confusing web of perceptions and attitudes towards plagiarism. These pose a significant set of challenges for foreign universities developing and delivering programmes in a range of markets, particularly in locations such as Australia, where the importance and value of attracting, supporting--and, indeed, understanding--foreign students, has tended to underpin many university marketing efforts. (Contains 3 tables and 1 diagram.)
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003006059
1958-2008 : how access to VET qualifications has changed in Australia
- Authors: Smith, Erica
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education and Training Vol. 50, no. 1 (2008), p. 43-46
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a reflection on the growth in qualifications available through work, over the 50 years of Education and Training. Design/methodology/approach – The approach adopted is that of providing a viewpoint, reflecting back on the availability of qualifications today compared with the 1950s. Findings – The growth in the availability of qualifications has meant that a greater proportion of the workforce now hold qualifications, and particularly that people outside traditional trades can gain work-related qualifications. The changes have advantaged those in service industries and jobs previously not regarded as skilled. They have especially assisted women and have paralleled the increased participation of women in the workforce. However the current favourable situation has some fragility. Originality/value – This paper is one of a series commissioned by the journal on its 50th anniversary.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003006410
Coming to critical engagement in disadvantaged contexts : An editorial introduction
- Authors: Smyth, John
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Critical Studies in Education Vol. 50, no. 1 (03 2009), p. 1-7
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The article discusses various papers published within the issue including one about the notion of community capacity building and another on the orthodoxy of psychological deficit notions of under-performing youth in disadvantaged contexts.
- Description: 2003007955
Beyond the divide : Individual institutional and community capacity building in a Western Australian regional context
- Authors: Smyth, John , Down, Barry
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Education in Rural Australia Vol. 14, no. 2 (2004), p. 54-68
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000753
Transcending educational inequalities across multiple divides : Schools and communities building equitable and literate futures
- Authors: Angus, Lawrence
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Learning communities Vol. 3, no. (2006), p. 40-64
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper explores the complex issues of student engagement and school retention from a critical/sociological perspective. Dominant discourses on youth alienation, estrangement and underachievement are generally couched in a language of blame and deficits with responsibility for the problems being sheeted home to (a) individual students, families, neighbourhoods and/or cultural groups (b) teachers and schools, and (c) public education systems. What is largely missing from these discourses is a lack of recognition of the structural inequalities which pervade society and sustain educational disadvantage. Drawing on Paulo Freire’s philosophy and pedagogy, I argue that an analysis of student engagement and disaffection must involve both a critique of the dehumanising forces that operate within and outside schools, and the development of a renewed project for a critical pedagogy that challenges the logic of instrumental reason and neoliberal approaches to education policy. With reference to recent ethnographic research, I discuss the tensions involved in implementing school-based responses in the current policy environment and highlight some of the innovative responses to concerns of educational disadvantage and student engagement in the secondary years of schooling.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003002099
English community school teacher education and English as a second language in Papua New Guinea
- Authors: Zeegers, Margaret
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education Vol. 33, no. 2 (2005), p. 135-146
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article explores community (primary) school teacher education in the subject, English, at a Papua New Guinea (PNG) teachers' college as manifested in end-of-year English lessons in practicum rounds of pre-service community school teachers. English is the official language overlaid on 700 indigenous languages in this country where reconstructionism informs policy decisions. Given this, the importance of success in English in schools is not to be underestimated. The research focuses on the implementation the knowledge, skills, strategies and materials acquired by pre-service English teachers in a coastal province in PNG in the context of a number of public statements on educational policy and practice. It examines the impact of these as indicated in lesson plans and supervisors' reports
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003003551
Metropolitan universities : Serving the needs of adult students?
- Authors: Miller, Charlynn , Gleeson, Lynne
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Continuing Higher Education Vol. 55, no. 3 (2007), p. 2-13
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003004709
Modelling choice : Factors influencing modes of delivery in Australian universities
- Authors: Smith, Andy , Ling, Peter , Hill, Doug
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Post-Compulsory Education Vol. 13, no. 3 (2008), p. 295-306
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper reports the findings of a study of Multiple Modes of Delivery in Australian universities that was commissioned by Australian Universities Teaching Committee over the period 2001-2004. The project examined and described the various means of educational delivery deployed by Australian universities. It identified the pedagogical, organisational and environmental factors impacting on university decisions to diversify course delivery across more than one location or mode. In this paper the authors report briefly on the first matter - the modes of delivery employed by Australian Universities. The paper focuses on the second issue - factors influencing university decision-making about modes of delivery.
- Description: 2003006065