scholarly journals Every Teacher a Changemaker: Reflections on Teacher Agency and Empowerment

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-101
Author(s):  
Meng Huat Chau ◽  
◽  
Krishnavanie Shunmugam

In this article, we explore teacher agency through the notion of teacher as changemaker by drawing upon our experiences in both school and university contexts. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, we present a personal account of our combined professional experiences of over half a century with how agency is exercised and achieved in our classroom and beyond. This consists of a series of reflections from the classes we have taught and individual students we have mentored, to our response to research and curriculum development. In these reflections, wherever relevant, we highlight what informs our decision-making and motivates our action from merely ‘getting our job done’ to a more humanistic engagement with teaching, mentoring and other professional activities. Second, we evaluate our earlier discussion against the backdrop of the notion of teacher as changemaker. We conclude by highlighting that teachers as changemakers are individuals concerned with personal transformation and growth, that they are committed to empowering others’ lives, and that they enable others to be changemakers.

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 568.2-568
Author(s):  
L. Kranenburg ◽  
M. Dankbaar ◽  
N. Basoski ◽  
W. Van den Broek ◽  
J. Hazes

Background:The training curriculum for rheumatologists in training in the Netherlands describes competences and entrusted professional activities (EPA) to monitor the progress in learning. However, this training program does not discuss training of Shared Decision Making. As the basis for shared care and patient participation is made during these years, the question arises how rheumatologist in training think about Shared Decision Making and how they use this in daily practice.Objectives:Inventory of vision, experience and self-evaluation of skills related to Shared Decision Making amongst rheumatologists in training in the Netherlands in order to identify barriers in the implementation of Shared Decision Making in daily practice.Methods:Qualitative data was collected from on online survey amongst rheumatologists in training who were registered in January 2018 by the Dutch Society of Rheumatology.Results:Forty-two rheumatologists in training from various years of training responded (60%). Respondents think that Shared Decision Making is important. A third applies Shared Decision Making on a regular basis in daily practice. Self rating of skills for Shared Decision Making varies from sufficient to good. However, respondents are uncertain about their performance due to a lack of feedback and unclearness of the concept. They indicate that Shared Decision Making is not possible for all patients and find it difficult to assess whether the patient has a clear understanding of the options. Patient’s preferences are discussed only by 33% of the doctors on a regular basis when starting new treatment.Conclusion:Rheumatologists in training agree on the importance of Shared Decision Making, but are uncertain about their performance. Unclearness of the concept is described as a known barrier in literature1,2and is frequently mentioned by respondents. Rheumatologist in training indicate that not all patients are fit for Shared Decision Making. Regarding the limited training on the subject this could also be a misjudgment of patients preferences and lack of experience how to deal with different patient types. There is a clear plea for more training and feedback on the subject. Training should be integrated in the curriculum focusing on how to assess patients preferences and how to apply Shared Decision Making also for patients who indicate to leave decisions up to their doctor.References:[1]van Veenendaal, H.et al.Accelerating implementation of shared decision-making in the Netherlands: An exploratory investigation.Patient Educ Couns101, 2097-2104 (2018).[2]Legare, F., Ratte, S., Gravel, K. & Graham, I. D. Barriers and facilitators to implementing shared decision-making in clinical practice: update of a systematic review of health professionals’ perceptions.Patient Educ Couns73, 526-535 (2008).Disclosure of Interests:Laura Kranenburg Grant/research support from: Pfizer and UCB for the development of the Reuma App, a tool to support selfmanagement for patients. This is not used for the research related to the submitted abstract., Mary Dankbaar: None declared, Natalja Basoski: None declared, Walter Van den Broek: None declared, Johanna Hazes: None declared


2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Βασιλική Κλεφτογιάννη

The aim of this study was to examine the applicability of successful participatory and adaptive management in the protected area of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas estuaries, based on local people‟s perceptions in relation to protection, as well as on main elements considered to be critical for successful participatory processes. Participatory and adaptive management of protected areas includes involvement of stakeholders in decision making and the ability to adjust management policies to emerging needs, associated with complex and dynamic socio-natural systems. The area of the Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas estuaries is protected under national, European and international environmental legislation. Simultaneously, the area is one of the most dynamic agro-ecosystems of Greece. Agriculture and fishing/mussel culture are well-developed activities of the primary sector of economy resulting in a number of environmental pressures on the protected area. Until recently, there was no substantial institutional protection of the area. The Common Ministerial Decision designating the area protected, pending for several years, was finally published in 2009. This delay was considered associated with reactions of the local people to potential restrictions imposed on their professional activities. The first part of this study attempts to record perceptions of the local population regarding important issues related with the protected area and explore how they are influenced by age and education of respondents, their economic dependence on it and distance of their residence from its borders. Using a questionnaire, the survey was conducted to a total sample of 822 respondents. The first part reveals a strong spatial variation in the views of local people, which requires special management policies. In general, a positive attitude towards protection was recorded, although there was a part of respondents that expressed negative attitude to protection, associated exclusively with economic interests. This study coincided with a pilot application of adaptive management in the area by the Managing Authority of Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas estuaries. The Managing Authority applied an evaluating method of the main environmental threats to the area by a group of experts. Given the absence of stakeholders of the primary sector from this process, we decided to explore their views regarding threats by applying a similar approach. To this aim, ten focus groups were formed, seven representing agricultural cooperatives and three representing fishing cooperatives. The results of the second part show that stakeholders of the primary sector tend to underestimate specific threats related to their professional activities. However, most groups recognized the wetland‟s value; also, in a number of cases, their assessment of threats approached the experts‟ assessment. It appears that the conditions for implementing participatory and adaptive management in the region are generally favorable, provided the effective tackling of issues which incite conflict or impede management efforts. Important among them are the disparity between different regions and the association of professional activity and financial interests with the attitude to protection. Active and effective involvement of major stakeholders in early decision making stages, that is the process of participatory and adaptive management itself, can help in addressing these issues.


Author(s):  
Tetiana Shmelova

In this chapter, the author presents stochastic methods in aviation. The stochastic methods are presented as methods of decision making (DM) of operators of air navigation systems (ANS) in risk and uncertainly. The ANS is presented as a socio-technical system (STS). Analysis influences the factors of professional and non-professional activities on DM of STS's operators. The author made an analysis of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) documents on risk assessment. To determine the quantitative characteristics of risk levels, models for DM by the operator of the aviation system under risk and uncertainty have been developed. The author demonstrates some interesting advantages offered by the new methodology of DM in STS and forecasting the behavior of the operator in an emergency situation (ES) for using models of DM in risk and uncertainty.


Author(s):  
Sumaira Khan

This study investigated how a head teacher’s decisions were informed by her prior professional experiences in coping with the challenges in the initial years of headship in Government Secondary School in Pakistan. It is a qualitative case study of a newly promoted female head teacher with twenty-nine years of teaching experience, posted in the same school. Multiple data collection tools (interviews, observations, document analysis and field notes) were used to collect data about the inquiry. The study found that decision-making processes and professional experiences were co-related in teaching and learning, managing the staff, efficient and effective placement of the staff, strategic planning and development of the school, and resource management and accountability. Other factors, which influenced the head teacher’s decisions were: pressure from high management and the community, accountability, personal values and priorities, and relationships with stakeholders. The study recommended that policy makers provide support and professional development opportunities for novice and aspiring head teachers and has raised questions for further exploration.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Maroussia Ahmed ◽  
Margaret Denton ◽  
Julia S. O’Connor ◽  
Isik Urla Zeytinoglu

This article examines the progress made at a mid-sized Ontario university in reducing gender differences in faculty participation and experience of participation in university administration, decision-making, teaching, research, and other professional activities. Based on a survey of female and male faculty and the report of a Task Force on the Integration of Female Faculty, a number of recommendations were to be implemented beginning in the 1992/93 academic year. Progress is examined in light of a commitment to integration based on the principles of inclusion, visibility of procedure, equitable treatment, and climate of support. The article concludes by discussing issues related to participation, which have relevance beyond the specifics of this case.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
E.V. Shmakova ◽  
E.M. Popova ◽  
E.S. Shekhovtsova ◽  
T.N. Kabanova

The article presents the results of a study of psychological factors of decision making amongforensic psychiatric specialists. Given the survey data of10 medical psychologists and 10 psychiatrists carrying out compulsory treatment in the psychiatric hospital №5, Moscow Department of Public Health, in comparison with the control group, consisting of professionals working in the field of education, manufacturing, services and technology. Methodical complex included: 1. The Epstein questionnaire of the intuitive style (adaptation Kornilova T. V., Kornilov S. A.); A new questionnaire of tolerance/intolerance to uncertainty (Kornilova T. V.); Melbourne questionnaire of decision making (adaptation T. V.Kornilova); The questionnaire «Personal factors of decision making»(T.V. Kornilova); TheV. Smecalo and V. M. Kucher method; The Tsvetkova Method; 7. The questionnaire «Styles of thinking» by R. Bramsonand Harrison (adaptation of A. A. Alekseev); 8.The questionnaire «Scale of base convictions» (R.Yanov-Boulemane, adaptation M.A. Padun, A.V. Kotelnikov); 9. The check-list aimed to identify the type of decisions taken by the expert in professional activity, their frequency, importance, subjective evaluation is necessary for decision making qualities and to evaluate the most significant opinions of other persons in the decision-making process. There were defined the characteristics of decision making depending on gender. The relationships between type of activity and frequency of occurrence of different types of decisions in professional activities of specialists were revealed. Analyzed the relationship between consideration of the views of others when making decisions and activity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (45) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
A. V. Timakova ◽  
D. I. Fedorenko

Third year student, D. I. Fedorenko D. I. Relationship between psychological features of personality and decision-making style in professional activity / Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman, Ukraine Kyiv. The article reveals the content of the concept and theoretical approaches to the selection of decision-making styles in professional activities. The psychological features of the personality that determine the choice of a certain style of decision making are considered. The results of an empirical study of the relationship between psychological characteristics of personality and decision-making style in professional activities are highlighted.Key words: decision-making style, psychological features of personality, locus-control, internality, externality, tolerance to uncertainty, intolerance to uncertainty, vigilance, avoidance, hypervigilance, procrastination.


Author(s):  
Yuliya Sikirda ◽  
Tetiana Shmelova

In this chapter, socio-technical analysis of Air Navigation System (ANS) has hold in the result of which the heterogeneous factors of professional and non-professional activities influencing on the decision-making (DM) of ANS's human-operator (Н-О) in expected and unexpected aircraft's (АС) operating conditions have classified, systematically compiled and formalized. The method of generalization of heterogeneous factors, which allows taking into account the structural hierarchy, heterogeneity, dynamic instability of factors of professional and non-professional activity influencing on the ANS's H-O DM has developed, the conditions for their evaluation have determined. The vector of actions of the ANS's H-O in the expected and unexpected AC operating conditions, taking into account the model of the operator's behaviour, has considered. The authors have obtained the models of bipolar choice of operator of Socio-Technical System (STS) for using of reflexion theory and Markov network. They present the results of choosing in the direction of positive, negative pole, a mixed choice and forecasting of development of the situation. The authors demonstrate the methodology for analysis of flight situation development using GERT's and Markov's networks.


Author(s):  
Cheryl Regehr ◽  
Guy Enosh ◽  
Emily Bosk

Mental health professionals are frequently presented with situations in which they must assess the risk that a client will cause harm to themselves or others. Troublingly, however, predictions of risk are remarkably inaccurate even when made by those who are highly skilled and highly trained. Consequently, many jurisdictions have moved to impose standardized decision-making tools aimed at improving outcomes. Using a decision-making ecology framework, this conceptual paper presents research on professional decision-making in situations of risk, using qualitative, survey, and experimental designs conducted in three countries. Results reveal that while risk assessment tools focus on client factors that contribute to the risk of harm to self or others, the nature of professional decision-making is far more complex. That is, the manner in which professionals interpret and describe features of the client and their situation, is influenced by the worker’s own personal and professional experiences, and the organizational and societal context in which they are located. Although part of the rationale of standardized approaches is to reduce complexity, our collective work demonstrates that the power of personal and social processes to shape decision-making often overwhelm the intention to simplify and standardize. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.


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