scholarly journals The Conceptual Confusion of Teaching Quality and Teacher Quality, and a Clarity Pursuit

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-119
Author(s):  
Awuradjoa Aidoo ◽  
Luo Shengquan

This study aimed to establish and understand the conceptual confusion between teaching quality and teacher quality and design a path for their distinction. The study conducted searches on ERIC, ScienceDirect, JSTOR, Sage Journals, Sage Knowledge, Web of Science, and random Google search engine utilization for teaching quality, teacher quality, differences between teacher quality and teaching quality, and conceptual confusion. The study applied Gidden's structuration theory to foster clarity development amid conceptual confusion. The study also highlighted the relevance of the concepts' distinction, inter-relatability, and connecting boundaries and was guided by the research questions: how can the concepts be distinguished from each other? How can the conceptual confusion between them be cleared? The study discovered pathways to understand the conceptual differences through deconstruction, classification, and relationship and role pairing. The study discovered: differences do exist between the two concepts in content and realization; some of the relationships between the concepts serve as their explicit conceptual differentiators: some were discovered to possess purposes of linking the concepts, while some detached the concepts; the existing relationships also unveiled the deriving roles of the concepts on each other and in practice; and proposed a framework for their distinction and clarification. Implications for practice include enablement of professional development needs identification for teachers; clarification of areas for leadership coaching and mentoring of teachers; self-awareness creation for teachers in seeking professional growth; student achievement; school improvement and action research enhancement.

2021 ◽  
pp. 089202062199968
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Hartney ◽  
Jo Axe ◽  
Keith Borkowsky

The aim of this research was to develop a grounded theory of educational leadership development, using generative dialogue (GD), as an approach to initiating and maintaining professional growth in school principals/vice principals in an urban school district in a relatively affluent region of Western Canada. In Wave I, GD interviews were conducted by a team of consultants, and anonymous data were voluntarily submitted to the research team (n = 37). In Wave II, confidential, one-on-one, audio-recorded virtual interviews were conducted with five participants. Data were transcribed and analysed using grounded theory. The grounded theory model integrated the findings from Wave I and Wave II. There were three final overarching themes: environment, relationships, and leadership. Professional growth was evident when a GD approach was used that emphasized both positive communication and self-reflection. Relationships were supported by a focus on safety and reflected honesty, which led to a positive school culture, while leadership was facilitated through supports and the supervisor role and led to improved accountability. In conclusion, GD serves a useful purpose for facilitating professional growth in educational leaders, but should be supplemented with other evidence-based approaches to meet school leaders’ broader professional development needs, and goals of school improvement. Applicability and limitations of the study are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 708-730
Author(s):  
Christopher Redding ◽  
Laura Neergaard Booker ◽  
Thomas M. Smith ◽  
Laura M. Desimone

Purpose Administrator support has been identified as a key factor in deterring teacher turnover. Yet, the specific ways school principals directly or indirectly influence teacher retention remain underexamined. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach This study includes a survival analysis to examine when beginning mathematics teachers turned over and the extent to which teacher quality and administrative support was associated with the turnover, and an analysis of exit surveys explaining teachers’ decision to turn over. Findings New teachers with more supportive administrators are less likely to turn over. The influence of administrative support on teacher turnover does not appear to be driven by more supportive administrators improving a school’s professional community, increasing teacher autonomy, or increasing the frequency of professional development and mentoring. While both increased administrative support and teaching quality independently predict reduced turnover, the strength of the association of administrative support on turnover does not appear to be related to the level of teacher quality nor mediated through teacher quality. Practical implications Results suggest that the presence of high levels of administrative support are more influential in deterring new teacher turnover than more direct supports, such as the assignment of mentors or recommending professional development. Originality/value The use of in-depth data on beginning teachers’ induction supports and teaching quality collected over multiple years shows distinct ways administrators influence new teachers’ decision to remain in their first school.


Author(s):  
Thomas James Pharis ◽  
Larry Allen ◽  
Jamie V Mahoney ◽  
Stephanie Sullivan

A focus on improving teacher quality and student achievement led many states to implement teacher effectiveness systems. The Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching was adapted by Kentucky as the Teacher Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (TPGES). This study examined educator viewpoints concerning the impact of TPGES on improving teacher quality and student achievement, educator attitude for implementation, time requirement, and the potential to impact teacher growth and student learning.Teacher and principal triangulated data indicated mixed viewpoints concerning the impact of TPGES implementation on improving teacher quality and improving student learning. The data did not indicate positive educator attitudes for the implementation and time requirement for TPGES. Study implications focused on five identified dispositions relevant for all educators striving to implement innovative change initiatives.


2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Jo Kreitzer ◽  
Lixin Zhang ◽  
Michelle J. Trotter

Health professionals have jobs that are inherently stressful and most have had little opportunity or encouragement to focus on self-care. Over the past 10 years, professional development programs such as the “Courage to Teach” have been developed for teachers in primary and secondary schools. Reported outcomes include personal and professional growth, increased satisfaction and well-being, and renewed passion and commitment for teaching. Based on this model of transformational professional development, a program was developed for health professionals, the Inner Life Renewal Program. Four cohorts of health professionals have completed the program. This brief report provides descriptive information regarding the structure, format, and process of the program and evaluative data based on program evaluations and participant interviews. Outcomes reported by participants include an increase in self-awareness, improved listening skills and relationships with colleagues, and an increased ability to manage or cope with stress.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 28-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Bautista ◽  
Joanne Wong ◽  
Alberto Cabedo-Mas

The purpose of this interview study, conducted with 12 primary music teachers in Singapore, was to determine whether peer observation is viewed as a learning approach that may contribute to professional growth. We found that both specialist and generalist music teachers highly valued peer observation and were optimistic about the use of video-mediated peer observation. As a form of professional development, peer observation appears to enhance understanding and application of teaching strategies, allows teachers to anticipate students’ reactions during lessons, and builds their confidence as instructors. Video-mediated peer observation, which is both convenient and easily accessible, provides contextualized examples of effective classroom practices. We conclude that peer observation activities are most meaningful and transformative when they are responsive, that is, designed with music teachers’ voices and professional development needs in mind.


2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Len Jennings ◽  
Ashley Sovereign ◽  
Nancy Bottorff ◽  
Melissa Pederson Mussell ◽  
Christopher Vye

This study employed the Consensual Qualitative Research method (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997) to reanalyze interview data from a previous qualitative study of the personal characteristics of master therapists (Jennings & Skovholt, 1999). Previous research has demonstrated that therapists utilize a variety of resources when making ethical decisions, including professional codes of conduct and their own values. The current study's analysis of 10 master therapists' interviews resulted in the identification of nine ethical values related to their clinical practice: (a) relational connection, (b) autonomy, (c) beneficence, (d) nonmaleficence, (e) competence, (f) humility, (g) professional growth, (h) openness to complexity and ambiguity, and (i) self-awareness. Conducting oneself ethically is a critical task of the competent therapist (American Psychological Association, 2002). Making the best ethical decisions can be extremely challenging for most therapists due to the multitude of complex ethical situations that arise in practice. The goal of this study is to examine the ethical values of therapists considered to be "the best of the best" by their professional colleagues. It is hoped that such an examination will help to illuminate the ethical values that these master therapists seem to draw upon in their work.


1999 ◽  
Vol 83 (610) ◽  
pp. 49-54
Author(s):  
Ann Simpson Applewhite

While staff development is an integral ingredient for encouraging school reform, there may be little funding in district budgets for professional development. Without specific goals and a guiding vision, teachers are often left alone to find classes they need for professional growth or recertification, which may not match the focus established in their school.


Author(s):  
Janet M De Groot ◽  
Aliya Kassam ◽  
Dana Swystun ◽  
Maureen Topps

Purpose: Postgraduate trainees (‘residents”) are required to convey professional behaviours as they navigate complex clinical environments. However, little is known about experiential learning for professionalism. Thus, we asked residents about professionalism challenges within the clinical learning environment: 1) how challenges were identified, 2) what supported successfully addressing challenges and 3) the impact of addressing challenges to further inform resident education. Method: From 2015-2016, twenty-five residents across specialties and multiple university affiliated teaching hospitals participated in appreciative inquiry informed audio-taped semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were categorized deductively for the 2015 CanMEDS Professional Role element addressed (commitment to patients, society, the profession, and physician health).  A pragmatic research paradigm focussed descriptive data analysis on actions and outcomes.  Results: Residents actively identify opportunities for experiential learning of professionalism within the clinical workplace– addressing conflicting priorities with interprofessional clinicians to ensure excellent patient care, providing informal feedback regarding peers’ and other healthcare clinicians’ professionalism lapses and by gaining self-awareness and maintaining wellness. There were no descriptions of commitment to society. Values, relationships, and reflection supported professional behaviours. Many described transformative personal and professional growth as an outcome of addressing professionalism challenges. Conclusions: Residents self-regulated experiential learning for professionalism often results in transformational changes personally and professionally. Elucidation of how residents successfully navigate power dynamics and conflict to provide excellent patient care and feedback for professional regulatory behaviour will support professionalism education. An interprofessional research lens will be valuable to explore how best to incorporate commitment to society within clinical environments. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Fikri Dwi Oktaviani ◽  
Pawit M Yusup ◽  
Ute Lies Siti Khadijah

This study aimed to find out the use of open library digital library services  in meeting the information needs of Telkom University students. The study used the qualitative method with case study approach. Data collection techniques were conducted through interviews with Telkom University students, observation, and literature study. Study results showed that the initial stage was based on the motivation and goals arising from self-awareness and the need to increase knowledge in completing tasks and scientific works (thesis/TA). Browsing began with authentication using an SSO account (Igracias), and information retrieval began with using a simple search facility. Students also used the internet to access various other sources with the Google search engine to further enrich the required information. Then, At the formulation stage, students conducted brainstorming by learning and understanding the problem-solving process related to the appropriate topic and discussing it with friends, lecturers, or people who were considered understandable and could be invited to discuss related topics that were being deepened. The collection stage was done by downloading the file and storing it in their laptop folder. At the presentation stage, students would feel satisfied after getting the information so it is possible to do monitoring.  The presentation was performed in the form of writing a new document or as a complement in both the completion of lecture assignments (proposal and paper) as well as the writing of scientific papers (thesis/TA).  


Author(s):  
Ramune Bagdonaite-Stelmokiene ◽  
Vilma Zydziunaite

<p><em>The article presents the results of qualitative research carried out with</em><em> 53 social work students</em><em> in Lithuania.</em><em> The research focused on the personal change in social work students taking place during the professional practice in which students establish relationships with different participants in the practice. . The use of unstructured reflection as a data collection method enabled students to remember, think over and put their practice experiences in writing. The data were analysed by applying grounded theory </em><em>(Strauss &amp; Corbin, 1990). Findings revealed that social work students differently experience the establishment of relationships in the professional practice. These experiences lead to students’ professional growth and personal change. The findings provide an opportunity to deepen the knowledge about students’ experiences of relationships. These new experiences can promote students’ self-awareness, the change of worldviews, beliefs and values as well as adding the new trends for the analysis of goals in professional practice of social work.</em></p><p> </p>


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