Neoliberalism: Unpacking Limited Employment Success for Persons with SMI

2020 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 390-399
Author(s):  
Karen Lynn Rebeiro Gruhl

Background. A mixed-methods case study exploring access to competitive employment for persons with serious mental illness (SMI) revealed limited access to work and low employment success across two northern communities. Purpose. To explore possible explanations for why low employment rates persist despite existing employment services and supports. Methods. A total of 46 individual or group interviews were conducted with persons with SMI, vocational providers, and decision-makers regarding access to competitive employment in the case communities. Data were systematically analysed for dominant ideas, interests and institutions using a neo-institutional framework. Findings. Participants described access to employment to be constrained by provider competition, limited supports, and a lack of consideration of difference—ideas and interests associated with neoliberal influences within provincial employment supports policy. Implications. Enabling participation in meaningful employment for people with SMI will require occupational therapists to appreciate and contest the oppressive nature of neoliberal policies on local programs and services.

Author(s):  
Mmabaledi Kefilwe Seeletso ◽  
Rinelle Evans

It is assumed that open and distance learning institutions develop study materials that adequately engage learners with quality content to assist their content mastery. However, distance learners continue to underperform, which raises the concern that high drop-out and failure rates may be ascribed to the study materials. This mixed-methods case study examined instructional material developed for secondary school learners studying via the open and distance learning mode. The study was informed by Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory to evaluate the process of designing and developing instructional materials while Gorsky, Caspi and Trumper’s Theory of Instructional Dialogue was used to map interaction with and within the selected study materials. A self-designed evaluation rubric included language related criteria to gauge the accessibility of content. A questionnaire survey was undertaken with purposively identified participants: five material developers, 176 learners, and six tutors. Six semi-structured group interviews and twenty individual face-to-face interviews were conducted. Open coding and SPSS reports were used for qualitative and quantitative data analysis, respectively. Findings related to non-alignment of materials with learner profile, and the national syllabus, while inadequate proficiency in the language of instruction remained problematic. The outcomes of this study highlight the importance of well-trained material developers and focused ODL policies for quality assuring effective content design and development to accommodate diverse learners with limited English proficiency.


Author(s):  
Robert W. Elliott

<p><span>The literature indicates faculty members' beliefs and attitudes toward assessment are crucial to the successful implementation of assessment.  However, few empirical studies have examined the culture of assessment among faculty members.  The intent of this single-level mixed methods case study is to identify the factors and examine how these factors influence faculty members' perceptions, attitudes, and their engagement in assessment activities by studying the case of a public teaching intensive university in the Southwest region of the U.S.  An online survey and asynchronous focus group interviews are used.  The implications for institutional policy making and professional development are discussed, based on the findings.</span></p>


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Bethany Chase

BACKGROUND: Collaboration between supported employment providers and parents/guardians of job seekers with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities is key to employment success. However, parents are often concerned about the efficacy of employment supports or the capacity of the professionals providing the service. Likewise, job coaches may consider certain kinds of parent involvement as detrimental to a successful job match. OBJECTIVE: This article provides context for why parents/guardians may be distrustful of the employment process, as well as why employment specialists may struggle to build strong partnerships with parents/guardians. METHODS: This article will discuss how to implement practices that not only welcome the critical input of families, but also maintain healthy and well-defined boundaries that affirm the autonomy, professionalism, and competence of the worker.


Seizure ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Locatelli ◽  
D. Ausili ◽  
V. Stubbings ◽  
S. Di Mauro ◽  
M. Luciani

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 278
Author(s):  
Pihel Hunt ◽  
Äli Leijen ◽  
Marieke van der Schaaf

While there is now extensive research on feedback in the context of higher education, including pre-service teacher education, little has been reported regarding the use of feedback from teachers to other teachers. Moreover, literature on the potential advantages that the use of technology, for example electronic portfolios and learning analytics, has in improving feedback in the in-service workplace practices, is also sparse. Therefore, the aim of this exploratory case study was to explore how in-service teachers perceived the peer feedback they received and provided through a web-based electronic portfolio during a professional development course carried out in their workplace. Questionnaire and interview data were collected from 38 teachers who received feedback through a learning analytics enhanced electronic portfolio and from 23 teachers who received feedback only by the electronic portfolio. Additionally, one individual and four focus group interviews were conducted with 15 teachers who were the feedback providers. Several common topics were identified in the interviews with the feedback receivers and providers, involving the benefits and challenges of human interaction and the flexibility of the feedback process that the electronic portfolio offered. The results also revealed better feedback experience within the group of teachers who received extra feedback by means of learning analytics. It is concluded that although an electronic portfolio provides a useful tool in terms of flexibility in the provision and receipt of feedback, the need for human interaction was acknowledged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (S1) ◽  
pp. S14-S17
Author(s):  
Clinton Warren

This case study asks students to assume the role of a ticket sales strategist hired to work as a consultant for the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher athletic department. In this case, you will be asked to work with members of the Gopher Fan Advisory Board to develop service innovations in the area of ticket sales. As a sales and marketing consultant, you will examine existing data on spectator attendance trends and focus group interviews to determine the current issues facing the athletic department. Then, you will be asked to suggest the manners by which the athletic department should innovate the ticket service, using a design thinking approach to grow ticket sales and spectator attendance for the men’s hockey program.


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