Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110773
Marie K. Norman, Alistair Norman, Terry Hyland
ABSTRACT The concept of acknowledging students’ interests – both what they may be interested in and what is in their interest – is gaining increasing purchase in the new competitive economy of higher education. In addition to the obvious benefits of boosting student success in higher education institutions (HEIs), there are well-established educational advantages of foregrounding students’ interests. The philosophical and psychological literature abounds with justificatory explanations of why interest is so crucial to learning of all kinds. Apart from the clear motivational benefits, organising learning around interests helps educators to realise the goal of Bildung, the education of the whole person. However, notwithstanding the obvious value of utilising interest in teaching and learning, there is a dearth of relevant research on the topic of relevance to HEIs. This research aims to help redress the balance by investigating how the interests of learners may be utilised effectively in the guidance and supervision of postgraduate students undertaking masters’ dissertations in education.
{"title":"The magic ingredient: masters students’ interest in their dissertation topics","authors":"Marie K. Norman, Alistair Norman, Terry Hyland","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110773","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The concept of acknowledging students’ interests – both what they may be interested in and what is in their interest – is gaining increasing purchase in the new competitive economy of higher education. In addition to the obvious benefits of boosting student success in higher education institutions (HEIs), there are well-established educational advantages of foregrounding students’ interests. The philosophical and psychological literature abounds with justificatory explanations of why interest is so crucial to learning of all kinds. Apart from the clear motivational benefits, organising learning around interests helps educators to realise the goal of Bildung, the education of the whole person. However, notwithstanding the obvious value of utilising interest in teaching and learning, there is a dearth of relevant research on the topic of relevance to HEIs. This research aims to help redress the balance by investigating how the interests of learners may be utilised effectively in the guidance and supervision of postgraduate students undertaking masters’ dissertations in education.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"549 - 569"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43762854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110775
Tahera Yaqoubi, Z. Mohammadi, Jawad Golzar
ABSTRACT Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is considered to provide equitable opportunities for all learners with or without disabilities. This study aimed to examine the extent to which UDL was implemented in ESL classrooms at the university level. A mixed-method approach was conducted to explore the effective ways to maximise learning outcomes, inclusion, and equity regarding UDL principles; both students’ and teachers’ voices were addressed. Online questionnaires for students and semi-structured interviews for teachers were used to probe the UDL application in the classrooms. The findings revealed that teachers employed UDL principles in their classrooms to varying degrees. They also explored various strategies to enhance levels of engagement, representation, action, and expression. However, they experienced different tensions during the process. The study concluded with implications for researchers, teachers, and policymakers in developing a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.
{"title":"An analysis of Universal Design for Learning at collegial level: effective ways to maximise learning outcomes, inclusion, and equity","authors":"Tahera Yaqoubi, Z. Mohammadi, Jawad Golzar","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110775","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110775","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is considered to provide equitable opportunities for all learners with or without disabilities. This study aimed to examine the extent to which UDL was implemented in ESL classrooms at the university level. A mixed-method approach was conducted to explore the effective ways to maximise learning outcomes, inclusion, and equity regarding UDL principles; both students’ and teachers’ voices were addressed. Online questionnaires for students and semi-structured interviews for teachers were used to probe the UDL application in the classrooms. The findings revealed that teachers employed UDL principles in their classrooms to varying degrees. They also explored various strategies to enhance levels of engagement, representation, action, and expression. However, they experienced different tensions during the process. The study concluded with implications for researchers, teachers, and policymakers in developing a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"594 - 621"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46815787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110778
Maria F. Larrea, S. Hodge, Timothy J. Mavin, Yosriko Kikkawa
ABSTRACT This paper provides a perspective on learning in which training and situated learning complement each other in developing cabin crew competence. Traditionally, airlines have approached cabin crew training from a competency-based, behavioural perspective with limited engagement in the actual work context. This ethnographic study builds on contemporary learning theoriesto argue that participation in social practice is essential for developing cabin crew competence. More importantly, it was found that learning arises in the frictions and negotiations between identity, knowledge, and values fostered in training and the workplace experience of the cabin crew. These findings contribute to the situated learning literature by expanding the notion that training may also have characteristics of social practice. Likewise, understanding learning arising from the negotiation of different contexts offers a broader perspective of situated learning. These findings in the learning processes of cabin crew may contribute to the improvement of the airlines’ training programmes and potentially to other contexts of high social interaction, such as hospitality and healthcare.
{"title":"Becoming cabin crew: a situated learning approach to training and workplace experience","authors":"Maria F. Larrea, S. Hodge, Timothy J. Mavin, Yosriko Kikkawa","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110778","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110778","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This paper provides a perspective on learning in which training and situated learning complement each other in developing cabin crew competence. Traditionally, airlines have approached cabin crew training from a competency-based, behavioural perspective with limited engagement in the actual work context. This ethnographic study builds on contemporary learning theoriesto argue that participation in social practice is essential for developing cabin crew competence. More importantly, it was found that learning arises in the frictions and negotiations between identity, knowledge, and values fostered in training and the workplace experience of the cabin crew. These findings contribute to the situated learning literature by expanding the notion that training may also have characteristics of social practice. Likewise, understanding learning arising from the negotiation of different contexts offers a broader perspective of situated learning. These findings in the learning processes of cabin crew may contribute to the improvement of the airlines’ training programmes and potentially to other contexts of high social interaction, such as hospitality and healthcare.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"664 - 685"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45164423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110772
A. Smith
ABSTRACT The month in which we are born affects our experience of and progress through the education system and is known as the relative age effect. This study reports on a project in which the author conducted mixed methods research into the impact of different birth months on enrolment patterns and participant experiences within further education in England, a neglected sector for this research area. This paper challenges the current view that the negative impact of being born later in an academic year cohort dissipates with age. Analysis of the findings shows that enrolment patterns are skewed towards the summer months for those entering the further education college in the study and that the month of May should be included in the definition of summer months. Summer-born study participants were aware of their relative age at a social and physical level, but made no connection to their academic progress. This paper argues that relative age is a significant driver for enrolment to and, therefore, subsequent performance within further education, which should be monitored alongside other better known disadvantage factors, with the aim to reduce and eliminate this systemic disadvantage.
{"title":"Born too late? How relative age affects college enrolment patterns","authors":"A. Smith","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110772","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110772","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The month in which we are born affects our experience of and progress through the education system and is known as the relative age effect. This study reports on a project in which the author conducted mixed methods research into the impact of different birth months on enrolment patterns and participant experiences within further education in England, a neglected sector for this research area. This paper challenges the current view that the negative impact of being born later in an academic year cohort dissipates with age. Analysis of the findings shows that enrolment patterns are skewed towards the summer months for those entering the further education college in the study and that the month of May should be included in the definition of summer months. Summer-born study participants were aware of their relative age at a social and physical level, but made no connection to their academic progress. This paper argues that relative age is a significant driver for enrolment to and, therefore, subsequent performance within further education, which should be monitored alongside other better known disadvantage factors, with the aim to reduce and eliminate this systemic disadvantage.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"525 - 548"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43349131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110776
Camilla Fitzsimons, Sean Henry, J. O’Neill
ABSTRACT The paper analyses how educators employed on non-permanent contracts in the non-compulsory education sector in Ireland have fared during the Covid 19 pandemic. These employees were starting from a low base in relation to the terms and conditions of their employment when their places of work dramatically pivoted online in March 2020. We argue the impacts of the pandemic were disproportionate, with people reporting such things as increased workloads, exclusion from HR update communications and little supports in creating workspaces in their homes. In this sense, we foreground how participants’ places of work often assumed that all employees, precarious and permanent, had the same level of access to resources.Furthermore, given the gendered nature of caring responsibilities and the high proportion of women respondents in the research, we highlight the extent to which the pandemic increased caring responsibilities and impacted on female participants’ capacity to work. Overall, we demonstrate how the Covid 19 pandemic hasn’t, in itself, created unsatisfactory working conditions, rather, it has both exposed and accentuated existing shortfalls and further proved, if such proof was needed, that short-term actions compound the many problems with precarity in post-compulsory education work.
{"title":"Precarity and the pandemic: an inquiry into the impact of Covid19 on the working lives of non-permanent educators in post-compulsory education in Ireland","authors":"Camilla Fitzsimons, Sean Henry, J. O’Neill","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110776","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The paper analyses how educators employed on non-permanent contracts in the non-compulsory education sector in Ireland have fared during the Covid 19 pandemic. These employees were starting from a low base in relation to the terms and conditions of their employment when their places of work dramatically pivoted online in March 2020. We argue the impacts of the pandemic were disproportionate, with people reporting such things as increased workloads, exclusion from HR update communications and little supports in creating workspaces in their homes. In this sense, we foreground how participants’ places of work often assumed that all employees, precarious and permanent, had the same level of access to resources.Furthermore, given the gendered nature of caring responsibilities and the high proportion of women respondents in the research, we highlight the extent to which the pandemic increased caring responsibilities and impacted on female participants’ capacity to work. Overall, we demonstrate how the Covid 19 pandemic hasn’t, in itself, created unsatisfactory working conditions, rather, it has both exposed and accentuated existing shortfalls and further proved, if such proof was needed, that short-term actions compound the many problems with precarity in post-compulsory education work.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"622 - 642"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46482078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-02DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2110777
Neil Raven
ABSTRACT Comparatively few young white males from poorer backgrounds progress to university. This paper considers evidence gathered from a study that explores the educational ambitions of these young men from five areas of educational disadvantage in North West England, at two stages in their learner journeys. The first stage relates to school year 10 (14–15 year olds), as pupils work towards their level 2 qualifications. The second focuses on year 12 (16–17 year olds), as post-16 options are embarked upon and attention is turned to longer-term plans. What emerges from this study are a number of shared concerns over higher education as a destination. In supporting claims made in various other studies that have considered learners from widening participation backgrounds more generally, it is argued that these can be expressed in terms of costs. For this group, the potential benefits of HE must be weighed against a range of consequences that, in scale and extent, are unlikely to be encountered by their more affluent peers, and that may not be so acutely felt by those from some other under-represented populations. The study concludes by arguing that practitioners should acknowledge these consequences when developing outreach interventions for this group.
{"title":"Recognising the risks: perceptions of higher education amongst young white British males from areas of educational disadvantages","authors":"Neil Raven","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2110777","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2110777","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Comparatively few young white males from poorer backgrounds progress to university. This paper considers evidence gathered from a study that explores the educational ambitions of these young men from five areas of educational disadvantage in North West England, at two stages in their learner journeys. The first stage relates to school year 10 (14–15 year olds), as pupils work towards their level 2 qualifications. The second focuses on year 12 (16–17 year olds), as post-16 options are embarked upon and attention is turned to longer-term plans. What emerges from this study are a number of shared concerns over higher education as a destination. In supporting claims made in various other studies that have considered learners from widening participation backgrounds more generally, it is argued that these can be expressed in terms of costs. For this group, the potential benefits of HE must be weighed against a range of consequences that, in scale and extent, are unlikely to be encountered by their more affluent peers, and that may not be so acutely felt by those from some other under-represented populations. The study concludes by arguing that practitioners should acknowledge these consequences when developing outreach interventions for this group.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"643 - 663"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48018147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2076057
Jana Vietze, Sanne G. A. van Herpen, Aike S. Dias-Broens, S. Severiens, M. Meeuwisse
ABSTRACT Self-selection refers to the decision of qualified students to not pursue their highest possible educational degree, including higher education. In this systematic meta-review, we used the conceptual framework of college choice to identify resources or mechanisms for students’ self-selection from higher education in international reviews and meta-analyses. In addition, we investigate whether underrepresented student groups (i.e., first-generation and cultural minority) experience unique resources and mechanisms for self-selection. Our narrative synthesis of international reviews and meta-analyses indicated that self-selection is related to financial, informational, social, aspirational resources in all contextual layers (i.e. individual habitus, school and community, higher education, socio-political context) of the conceptual framework of college choice. Whereas the family can help prevent self-selection by providing all four types of resources, school and higher education institutions can provide important information and social support through counselling and mentoring activities. For underrepresented groups, vertical and horizontal transmissions of social capital and experienced personal fit with the higher education environment may be of special importance for preventing self-selection. We conclude by discussing the potential of self-selection as concept for future interventions and research on widening access to higher education.
{"title":"Self-selection from higher education: a meta-review of resources for academic decision-making of mainstream and underrepresented students","authors":"Jana Vietze, Sanne G. A. van Herpen, Aike S. Dias-Broens, S. Severiens, M. Meeuwisse","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2076057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076057","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Self-selection refers to the decision of qualified students to not pursue their highest possible educational degree, including higher education. In this systematic meta-review, we used the conceptual framework of college choice to identify resources or mechanisms for students’ self-selection from higher education in international reviews and meta-analyses. In addition, we investigate whether underrepresented student groups (i.e., first-generation and cultural minority) experience unique resources and mechanisms for self-selection. Our narrative synthesis of international reviews and meta-analyses indicated that self-selection is related to financial, informational, social, aspirational resources in all contextual layers (i.e. individual habitus, school and community, higher education, socio-political context) of the conceptual framework of college choice. Whereas the family can help prevent self-selection by providing all four types of resources, school and higher education institutions can provide important information and social support through counselling and mentoring activities. For underrepresented groups, vertical and horizontal transmissions of social capital and experienced personal fit with the higher education environment may be of special importance for preventing self-selection. We conclude by discussing the potential of self-selection as concept for future interventions and research on widening access to higher education.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"454 - 477"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47521710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2076053
Javier Mula-Falcón, Katia Caballero
ABSTRACT The changes produced in higher education as a consequence of neoliberal influences have had a considerable impact on the university world. As a consequence, there has been a growing research interest in how such changes have affected academics. However, recent review studies related to this issue are scarce in the literature. Therefore, this systematic review aims to provide a general overview of the way in which these new changes in higher education have had an impact on teachers. To this end, a bibliographic search was conducted on the Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Education Resources Information Centre, which yielded a total of 38 articles published in international journals. Thematic analysis was applied using the NVivo 12 software package, from which three emerging themes were identified: action strategies in view of new neoliberal demands; construction of the professional identities; and work, health and social consequences. Further, this review highlighted the need for more research on the influence of the closest social context (research team/department) on academic staff; as well as the development of systematic reviews of the literature that go deeper into the processes of construction and development of new professional identities.
{"title":"Neoliberalism and its impact on academics: a qualitative review","authors":"Javier Mula-Falcón, Katia Caballero","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2076053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076053","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The changes produced in higher education as a consequence of neoliberal influences have had a considerable impact on the university world. As a consequence, there has been a growing research interest in how such changes have affected academics. However, recent review studies related to this issue are scarce in the literature. Therefore, this systematic review aims to provide a general overview of the way in which these new changes in higher education have had an impact on teachers. To this end, a bibliographic search was conducted on the Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Education Resources Information Centre, which yielded a total of 38 articles published in international journals. Thematic analysis was applied using the NVivo 12 software package, from which three emerging themes were identified: action strategies in view of new neoliberal demands; construction of the professional identities; and work, health and social consequences. Further, this review highlighted the need for more research on the influence of the closest social context (research team/department) on academic staff; as well as the development of systematic reviews of the literature that go deeper into the processes of construction and development of new professional identities.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"373 - 390"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47825752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2076054
C. Lloyd, Peter Wolstencroft
ABSTRACT In this article, we examine the role of the Principal within Further Education colleges in England and explore the often neglected issue of succession planning in the sector. To provide background and context to the current situation, key policies and developments over the past 30 years are reviewed and challenges identified. Interviews with serving Principals designed to explore the role, what leadership development was in place and whether succession planning was used have been carried out. The findings demonstrate that succession planning within colleges is underdeveloped, something particularly concerning when linked to the fact that the role is often a short term one with the turnover of people at the top of the organisation being a major concern. Whilst in some cases individual organisations took steps to identify and support those who wanted to progress this was limited and impacted by the sector environment. The participants’ responses reinforced findings from literature that the importance of succession planning was often paramount to the success of an organisation and included some suggestions as how to increase the pool of potential future leaders for the sector.
{"title":"Yes, but what happens next? Succession planning in English further education colleges","authors":"C. Lloyd, Peter Wolstencroft","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2076054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076054","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In this article, we examine the role of the Principal within Further Education colleges in England and explore the often neglected issue of succession planning in the sector. To provide background and context to the current situation, key policies and developments over the past 30 years are reviewed and challenges identified. Interviews with serving Principals designed to explore the role, what leadership development was in place and whether succession planning was used have been carried out. The findings demonstrate that succession planning within colleges is underdeveloped, something particularly concerning when linked to the fact that the role is often a short term one with the turnover of people at the top of the organisation being a major concern. Whilst in some cases individual organisations took steps to identify and support those who wanted to progress this was limited and impacted by the sector environment. The participants’ responses reinforced findings from literature that the importance of succession planning was often paramount to the success of an organisation and included some suggestions as how to increase the pool of potential future leaders for the sector.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"391 - 412"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45797630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/13596748.2022.2076055
D. Dalby, A. Noyes
ABSTRACT Since policy changes in 2014 about who studies mathematics post-16 in England, the mathematics teaching workforce in further education (FE) colleges has grown and diversified. The question of how best to develop the professional practice of this changing workforce is, however, unresolved. Teachers in a recent national study report the benefits of non-formal learning but the diverse organisational structures of colleges impact on the size and focus of teacher communities and thereby the nature of professional learning. Where mathematics teachers are enabled to meet regularly or work in close proximity, teacher learning communities emerge but their development is constrained by a lack of consensus on the professional identities and competencies of mathematics teachers in FE colleges. Despite these obstacles, we argue that there is considerable potential to enhance professional learning for mathematics teachers in FE through a communities of practice approach and that such a strategy for professional development is a key component of a self-improving further education system.
{"title":"Developing the mathematics teacher workforce in England’s FE colleges: towards a ‘communities of practice’ strategy","authors":"D. Dalby, A. Noyes","doi":"10.1080/13596748.2022.2076055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2022.2076055","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Since policy changes in 2014 about who studies mathematics post-16 in England, the mathematics teaching workforce in further education (FE) colleges has grown and diversified. The question of how best to develop the professional practice of this changing workforce is, however, unresolved. Teachers in a recent national study report the benefits of non-formal learning but the diverse organisational structures of colleges impact on the size and focus of teacher communities and thereby the nature of professional learning. Where mathematics teachers are enabled to meet regularly or work in close proximity, teacher learning communities emerge but their development is constrained by a lack of consensus on the professional identities and competencies of mathematics teachers in FE colleges. Despite these obstacles, we argue that there is considerable potential to enhance professional learning for mathematics teachers in FE through a communities of practice approach and that such a strategy for professional development is a key component of a self-improving further education system.","PeriodicalId":45169,"journal":{"name":"Research in Post-Compulsory Education","volume":"27 1","pages":"413 - 435"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46980369","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}