scholarly journals Case Study o f Three Rural Texas Superintendents as Equity Oriented Change Agents

Author(s):  
Gerri Maxwell ◽  
Leslie Locke ◽  
James Scheurich

For this qualitative case study (Patton, 2003 ), we used narrative inquiry (Erlandson, Harris, Skipper, & Allen, 1993) and sought to analyze extended interviews and field notes based on inter actions with three rural superintendents working in high - needs, public PK - 12 school districts in Texas. We collected data with regard to these superintendents’ perceptions of themselves as social justice/equity oriented change agents based on the Equity Oriented Change Agent or EOCA framework developed by Skrla, McKenzie, and Scheurich (2009). Our goal with this study was to glean greater insight into the work of these rural school leaders as potential equity oriented change agents. Additionally, we sought to ascertain any additional EOCA characteristics through analysis of the participants’ perceptions. The data revealed themes that aligned with the Skrla et al., (2009) framework as well as some emergent data beyond those EOCA characteristics. These theme s afforded us a better understanding of the work of these three rural superintendents as equity oriented change agents and how they perceive their work.

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Sauceda Curwen ◽  
Amy Ardell ◽  
Laurie MacGillivray

This qualitative case study examines how fifth graders and their teachers participated in critical literacy instruction grounded in systems thinking on the topic of slavery. Systems thinking seeks to discover relationships and patterns in diverse underlying systems; critical literacy examines everyday texts, focuses on social justice and change, and promotes transformative practices. Classroom observations, photographs, interviews, and student artifacts were collected and analyzed to provide insight into students’ understandings of patterns of slavery from American colonial times to modern-day trafficking. Through a range of texts and different modalities, students sought to understand different group perspectives and ultimately took action to disrupt an unjust system. Three aspects of students’ learning led them to an agentic role: (1) crossing boundaries across time and differences, (2) developing a holistic worldview, and (3) reimagining a different world and altering the existing discourse.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-237
Author(s):  
Rosyanne Louise Autran Lourenço ◽  
Eliana Barbosa dos Santos

Este artigo visa a apresentar, sob uma perspectiva ecológica de letramento, resultados da análise de práticas sociodiscursivas do processo de ensino-aprendizagem de Português Língua de Acolhimento, de imigrantes refugiados no Brasil, realizadas por meio do WhatsApp. Teoricamente, o estudo circunscreve-se às dimensões analíticas de letramento (MOREAU et al., 2013), sob a perspectiva ecológica dos estudos linguísticos (VAN LIER, 2004, 2010), fundamentando-se em pressupostos referentes aos recursos multimodais das tecnologias digitais (LEFFA, 2006; MORAN, 2013) e à função mediadora da linguagem (VIGOTSKI, 1971), em especial, do Português Língua de Acolhimento (BARBOSA; SÃO BERNARDO, 2017) e de suas implicações referentes à noção de afetividade (LEITE, 2012). Metodologicamente, trata-se de estudo qualitativo de caso (STAKE, 1994), de base etnográfica virtual (SANTOS; GOMES, 2013) cuja geração dos dados ocorreu por meio de observação participante (BOGDAN; BIKLEN, 1998) e notas de campo (FETTERMAN, 1998). Sua relevância reside na urgência no processo de imersão de imigrantes refugiados em práticas sociodiscursivas que viabilizem a obtenção de condições mínimas de vida digna e a garantia de autonomia em sua agência no país de destino (COSTA; TAÑO, 2018). Os resultados da pesquisa sugerem que a abordagem ecológica de práticas de letramento em ambiente virtual amplia a compreensão das articulações inerentes ao processo de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas, propiciando ao docente melhores condições de promover a autonomia dos estudantes, em contexto de imigração, na condução de soluções que atendam às suas necessidades mais prementes, voltadas para as práticas sociais de imersão no país de chegada.   This article aims to present, in the light of an ecological perspective of literacy, the results of the analysis of sociodiscursive practices of the teaching-learning process of Portuguese as a Host Language, through WhatsApp by refugee immigrants in Brazil. Theoretically, the study is limited to the ecological perspective of linguistic studies (VAN LIER, 2004, 2010) and analytical literacy dimensions (MOREAU ET AL., 2013) based on assumptions regarding the multimodal resources of digital technologies (LEFFA, 2006; MORAN, 2013) and the mediating function of language (VIGOTSKI, 2009) in particular the Portuguese Host Language (BARBOSA; SÃO BERNARDO, 2017) and its implications regarding the notion of affectivity (LEITE, 2012). Methodologically, it is a qualitative case study (STAKE, 1994) with a virtual ethnographic basis (SANTOS; GOMES, 2013) whose data generation occurred through participant observation (BOGDAN; BIKLEN, 1998) and field notes (FETTERMAN, 1998). Its relevance resides in the urgency in the process of refugee immigrants sociodiscursive practices that make it possible to obtain minimum conditions of dignified life and guarantee autonomy at their agency in the destination country (COSTA; TAÑO, 2018). The research results suggest that the ecological approach to literacy practices in a virtual environment broadens the understanding of the articulations inherent to the language teaching-learning process, providing the teacher better conditions to promote the autonomy of the students in the context of immigration, in driving solutions that meet their pressing sociodiscursive needs, focused on social immersion practices in the country of arrival.


Author(s):  
Vicente Chua Reyes

This qualitative research inquiry explores how school leaders shape their identities while navigating incessant and seemingly endless school transformations. The central questions addressed are the following: how do school leaders make sense of their identities in rapid periods of reform? And how do they view themselves in new educational landscapes? An exploratory case study of four target schools that took part in policy reform initiatives directed at the ubiquitous use of Information Communication and Technology was undertaken for this inquiry. Using narrative inquiry as an analytical frame for the focus group discussions interviews and field notes, this inquiry investigates and builds emerging explanations to school leaders’ sense-making in periods of reform.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-257
Author(s):  
Winnie Sin Wai PUI ◽  
ZHANG Heyi ◽  
DING Ming ◽  
ZHONG Cai E

Play is an important vehicle for developing literacy, cognition, and social competence in early years settings. In this paper, a qualitative case study in a private kindergarten in China indicated how children could learn and appreciate their own culture in a thoughtfully designed play-based setting. Thirty kindergarten teachers from 15 classes consisting of 431 children in total participated in this study. Based on field notes, audio and video recordings, and teachers’ self-reflective notes, the study explored the play-based setting within a curriculum framework, i.e. the Early-years Whole-person Global-mindset Curriculum Framework (ewgc). The results showed that the play-based setting supported young children to form their own cultural identities and enhanced children’s development in general.


2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-107
Author(s):  
Joy Dangora Erickson

Although research indicates that motivation influences reading development and achievement, studies examining the motivation of primary-age readers are scarce and limited. Assuming school experiences play a role in shaping motivation, it is imperative that younger children’s motivation to read within the context of reading intervention programs be examined. This qualitative case study takes a step toward addressing the gap in the literature. The motivation and engagement of eight children identified as “at risk” for reading difficulties (four first graders and four second graders) specific to a pullout reading intervention program were investigated via researcher field notes and video logs, reading specialist engagement questionnaires and interviews, and participatory student interviews. Findings reveal that reports of engagement were mainly consistent with children’s preferences for doing reading in the classroom or in the intervention setting; however, children’s own perceptions were essential in understanding how the benefits and costs each associated with the intervention combined to influence motivation.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Ståle Knardal ◽  
John Burns

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of accounting when managing the institutional complexities of a festival organisation pursuing financial and social objectives. Specifically, it focuses on how accounting can be implicated in handling a festival’s multiple and potentially conflicting logics. Also, through mobilising the concept of institutional work, the following builds on our knowledge of the importance of what people do, in managing an organisation’s institutional complexity. Design/methodology/approach This paper is grounded in a qualitative case study, for which the primary data derives from interviews, plus examination of internal documents and information in the public domain. Findings The festival studied is commercially successful, though ultimately one of its main organisational goals is to maximise donations to charitable causes. Other goals include: offering an alternative community through music, particularly to the young; fostering new and innovative artistry; and nurturing a festival family that is rooted to a large extent in its army of volunteers. The paper reveals how seeking such goals simultaneously requires the handling of logics that potentially can pull in opposite directions. Moreover, it highlights the efforts of festival organisers to maintain coexistence between the different logics, including the utilisation of accounting, accounts and accountability to facilitate this. Originality/value There are three main contributions of the paper. First, it offers new insight into how accounting can be purposefully used to mediate between potentially opposing logics in a complex organisational setting. Second, the paper extends our knowledge of the use of accounting specifically within a popular culture context. Third, the following adds to recent use of the concept of institutional work to understand why and how people mobilise accounting to handle institutional complexity in organisational settings.


BJPsych Open ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Raeburn ◽  
Virginia Schmied ◽  
Catherine Hungerford ◽  
Michelle Cleary

BackgroundRecovery-oriented language has been widely adopted in mental health policy; however, little is known about how recovery practices are implemented within individual services, such as psychosocial clubhouses.AimsTo explore how recovery practices are implemented in a psychosocial clubhouse.MethodQualitative case study design informed by self-determination theory was utilised. This included 120 h of participant observation, interviews with 12 clubhouse members and 6 staff members. Field notes and interview transcripts were subject to theoretical thematic analysis.ResultsTwo overarching themes were identified, each comprising three sub-themes. In this paper, the overarching theme of ‘social environment’ is discussed. It was characterised by the sub-themes, ‘community and consistency’, ‘participation and opportunity’ and ‘respect and autonomy’.ConclusionsSocial environment was used to facilitate recovery-oriented practice within the clubhouse. Whether recovery is experienced by clubhouse members in wider society, may well depend on supports and opportunities outside the clubhouse.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-31
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sugeng ◽  
Pratiwi Retnaningdyah ◽  
Ali Mustofa

This paper aims to provide a heroism mythological reflection on the journey of researchers. This study uses the qualitative case study to obtain the comprehension of researchers' metaphor journeys through Monomyth on their research experiences. The documentary analysis is used in this qualitative study with the reflexive narrative because the reflection on experience can help the reader to gain insight into the researcher and their approach during the journey. 15 researcher’s literacy narratives chosen in this study which consists of 8 published literacy narratives and 7 literacy narratives task from participants. Research itself often considered as a journey that extends the existing knowledge and also develops new knowledge of the researcher while wandering in the wilderness of knowledge. Along the way, the researchers with their literacy narratives in this study unconsciously have a similar mythical pattern story as like as the mythical heroes which Campbell (1949) term it as ‘Monomyth’ pattern. The result presented in this paper may facilitate the literate improvements in which to motivate, to help the novice researcher to understand their own hero’s journey and to educate them about the stages that they will experience such as their new transition of conducting their new research.


Author(s):  
Turgay Han ◽  
Zinat Mahzoun

This article is the report of a qualitative case study proposed to investigate the demotivation factors of foreign EFL teachers in Turkish context. To that end, two foreign teachers of English language were chosen as the subjects at a primary/ secondary school in east of Turkey. Face-to-face interviews, profile forms, field notes and diaries were used to obtain the necessary data for the research. The findings indicated that lack of effective communication with school administration and colleagues and lack of interest, attention and respect from behalf of students were the main causes of demotivation at work for both teachers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Yuliana Ningsih ◽  
Kurnia Dwi Artika

The phenomenon this time was that many lecturers had fallen asleep with the technological advancements used in the learning media. By relying on a more unique creativity, this study used simple materials from spare parts of a machine that can be used as learning media especially in speaking interest. The paper aims to explore speaking interest through waste machines to the students of Mechanical Engineering, the State Polytechnic of Tanah Laut. It investigates how waste machines can be incorporated in English for Specific Purpose (ESP) learners’ speaking interest. This study was qualitative case study, and data were gathered through observations, field notes and interviews. Data were interpreted based on the prepared achievements indicator. The results of the study reveal that the utilization of waste machines such as shocks, piston, gear, and bold is successful improving speaking skill for the students of Mechanical Engineering. In addition, students also learnt how to deliver in presentation with their field studies.


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