Teachers' professional development in a community

The goal of this article was to study teachers' professional development related to web-based learning in the context of the teacher community. The object was to learn in what kind of networks teachers share the knowledge of web-based learning and what are the factors in the community that support or challenge teachers professional development of web-based learning. The findings of the study revealed that there are teachers who are especially active, called the central actors in this study, in the teacher community who collaborate and share knowledge of web-based learning. These central actors share both technical and pedagogical knowledge of web-based learning in networks that include both internal and external relations in the community and involve people, artefacts and a variety of media. Furthermore, the central actors appear to bridge different fields of teaching expertise in their community. According to the central actors' experiences the important factors that support teachers' professional development of web-based learning in the community are; the possibility to learn from colleagues and from everyday working practices, an emotionally safe atmosphere, the leader's personal support and community-level commitment. Also, the flexibility in work planning, challenging pupils, shared lessons with colleagues, training events in an authentic work environment and colleagues' professionalism are considered meaningful for professional development. As challenges, the knowledge sharing of web-based learning in the community needs mutual interests, transactive memory, time and facilities, peer support, a safe atmosphere and meaningful pedagogical practices. On the basis of the findings of the study it is suggested that by intensive collaboration related to web-based learning it may be possible to break the boundaries of individual teachership and create such sociocultural activities which support collaborative professional development in the teacher community. Teachers' in-service training programs should be more sensitive to the culture of teacher communities and teachers' reciprocal relations. Further, teacher trainers should design teachers' in-service training of web-based learning in co-evolution with supporting networks which include the media and artefacts as well as people.

The mini-clinical evaluation exercise during medical clerkships: are learning needs and learning goals aligned?

OBJECTIVES The generation of learning goals (LGs) that are aligned with learning needs (LNs) is one of the main purposes of formative workplace-based assessment. In this study, we aimed to analyse how often trainer–student pairs identified corresponding LNs in mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) encounters and to what degree these LNs aligned with recorded LGs, taking into account the social environment (e.g. clinic size) in which the mini-CEX was conducted. METHODS Retrospective analyses of adapted mini-CEX forms (trainers’ and students’ assessments) completed by all Year 4 medical students during clerkships were performed. Learning needs were defined by the lowest score(s) assigned to one or more of the mini-CEX domains. Learning goals were categorised qualitatively according to their correspondence with the six mini-CEX domains (e.g. history taking, professionalism). Following descriptive analyses of LNs and LGs, multi-level logistic regression models were used to predict LGs by identified LNs and social context variables. RESULTS A total of 512 trainers and 165 students conducted 1783 mini-CEXs (98% completion rate). Concordantly, trainer–student pairs most often identified LNs in the domains of ‘clinical reasoning’ (23% of 1167 complete forms), ‘organisation/efficiency’ (20%) and ‘physical examination’ (20%). At least one ‘defined’ LG was noted on 313 student forms (18% of 1710). Of the 446 LGs noted in total, the most frequently noted were ‘physical examination’ (49%) and ‘history taking’ (21%). Corresponding LNs as well as social context factors (e.g. clinic size) were found to be predictors of these LGs. CONCLUSIONS Although trainer–student pairs often agreed in the LNs they identified, many assessments did not result in aligned LGs. The sparseness of LGs, their dependency on social context and their partial non-alignment with students’ LNs raise questions about how the full potential of the mini-CEX as not only a ‘diagnostic’ but also an ‘educational’ tool can be exploited.

Causes, forms and consequences of the professionalization of international sport federa-tions in Switzerland: Conceptual framework and first results

Synopsis: Sport organisations are facing multiple challenges originating from an increasingly complex and dynamic environment in general, and from internal changes in particular. Our study seeks to reveal and analyse the causes for professionalization processes in international sport federations, the forms resulting from it, as well as related consequences. Abstract: AIM OF ABSTRACT/PAPER - RESEARCH QUESTION Sport organisations are facing multiple challenges originating from an increasingly complex and dynamic environment in general, and from internal changes in particular. In this context, professionalization seems to have been adopted by sport organisations as an appropriate strategy to respond to pressures such as becoming more “business-like”. The ongoing study seeks to reveal and analyse the internal and external causes for professionalization processes in international sport federations, the forms resulting from it (e.g. organisational, managerial, economic) as well as related consequences on objectives, values, governance methods, performance management or again rationalisation. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND/LITERATURE REVIEW Studies on sport as specific non-profit sector mainly focus on the prospect of the “professionalization of individuals” (Thibault, Slack & Hinings, 1991), often within sport clubs (Thiel, Meier & Cachay, 2006) and national sport federations (Seippel, 2002) or on organisational change (Griginov & Sandanski, 2008; Slack & Hinings, 1987, 1992; Slack, 1985, 2001), thus leaving broader analysis on governance, management and professionalization in sport organisations an unaccomplished task. In order to further current research on above-mentioned topics, our intention is to analyse causes, forms and consequences of professionalisation processes in international sport federations. The social theory of action (Coleman, 1986; Esser, 1993) has been defined as appropriate theoretical framework, deriving in the following a multi-level framework for the analysis of sport organisations (Nagel, 2007). In light of the multi-level framework, sport federations are conceptualised as corporative actors whose objectives are defined and implemented with regard to the interests of member organisations (Heinemann, 2004) and/or other pressure groups. In order to understand social acting and social structures (Giddens 1984) of sport federations, two levels are in the focus of our analysis: the macro level examining the environment at large (political, social, economic systems etc.) and the meso level (Esser, 1999) examining organisational structures, actions and decisions of the federation’s headquarter as well as member organisations. METHODOLOGY, RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS The multi-level framework mentioned seeks to gather and analyse information on causes, forms and consequences of professionalization processes in sport federations. It is applied in a twofold approach: first an exploratory study based on nine semi-structured interviews with experts from umbrella sport organisations (IOC, WADA, ASOIF, AIOWF, etc.) as well as the analysis of related documents, relevant reports (IOC report 2000 on governance reform, Agenda 2020, etc.) and important moments of change in the Olympic Movement (Olympic revenue share, IOC evaluation criteria, etc.); and secondly several case studies. Whereas the exploratory study seeks more the causes for professionalization on an external, internal and headquarter level as depicted in the literature, the case studies rather focus on forms and consequences. Applying our conceptual framework, the analysis of forms is built around three dimensions: 1) Individuals (persons and positions), 2) Processes, structures (formalisation, specialisation), 3) Activities (strategic planning). With regard to consequences, we centre our attention on expectations of and relationships with stakeholders (e.g. cooperation with business partners), structure, culture and processes (e.g. governance models, performance), and expectations of and relationships with member organisations (e.g. centralisation vs. regionalisation). For the case studies, a mixed-method approach is applied to collect relevant data: questionnaires for rather quantitative data, interviews for rather qualitative data, as well as document and observatory analysis. RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS/CONCLUSIONS With regard to causes of professionalization processes, we analyse the content of three different levels: 1. the external level, where the main pressure derives from financial resources (stakeholders, benefactors) and important turning points (scandals, media pressure, IOC requirements for Olympic sports); 2. the internal level, where pressure from member organisations turned out to be less decisive than assumed (little involvement of member organisations in decision-making); 3. the headquarter level, where specific economic models (World Cups, other international circuits, World Championships), and organisational structures (decision-making procedures, values, leadership) trigger or hinder a federation’s professionalization process. Based on our first analysis, an outline for an economic model is suggested, distinguishing four categories of IFs: “money-generating IFs” being rather based on commercialisation and strategic alliances; “classical Olympic IFs” being rather reactive and dependent on Olympic revenue; “classical non-Olympic IFs” being rather independent of the Olympic Movement; and “money-receiving IFs” being dependent on benefactors and having strong traditions and values. The results regarding forms and consequences will be outlined in the presentation. The first results from the two pilot studies will allow us to refine our conceptual framework for subsequent case studies, thus extending our data collection and developing fundamental conclusions. References: Bayle, E., & Robinson, L. (2007). A framework for understanding the performance of national governing bodies of sport. European Sport Management Quarterly, 7, 249–268 Chantelat, P. (2001). La professionnalisation des organisations sportives: Nouveaux débats, nouveaux enjeux [Professionalisation of sport organisations]. Paris: L’Harmattan. Dowling, M., Edwards, J., & Washington, M. (2014). Understanding the concept of professionalization in sport management research. Sport Management Review. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.smr.2014.02.003 Ferkins, L. & Shilbury, D. (2012). Good Boards Are Strategic: What Does That Mean for Sport Governance? Journal of Sport Management, 26, 67-80. Thibault, L., Slack, T., & Hinings, B. (1991). Professionalism, structures and systems: The impact of professional staff on voluntary sport organizations. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 26, 83–97.

Everyone is; should healthcare? Outsourcing: Issues in strategic planning, organizational culture, and organizational ethics

Expenditures for personal health services in the United States have doubled over the last decade. They continue to outpace the growth rate of the gross national product. Costs for medical care have steadily increased at an annual rate well above the rate of inflation and have gradually outstripped payers' ability to meet their premiums. This limitation of resources justifies the ongoing healthcare reform strategies to maximize utilization and minimize costs. The majority of the cost-containment effort has focused on hospitals, as they account for about 40 percent of total health expenditures. Although good patient outcomes have long been identified as healthcare's central concern, continuing cost pressures from both regulatory reforms and the restructuring of healthcare financing have recently made improving fiscal performance an essential goal for healthcare organizations. ^ The search for financial performance, quality improvement, and fiscal accountability has led to outsourcing, which is the hiring of a third party to perform a task previously and traditionally done in-house. The incomparable nature and overwhelming dissimilarities between health and other commodities raise numerous administrative, organizational, policy and ethical issues for administrators who contemplate outsourcing. This evaluation of the outsourcing phenomenon, how it has developed and is currently practiced in healthcare, will explore the reasons that healthcare organizations gravitate toward outsourcing as a strategic management tool to cut costs in an environment of continuing escalating spending. ^ This dissertation has four major findings. First, it suggests that U.S. hospitals in FY2000 spent an estimated $61 billion in outsourcing. Second, it finds that the proportion of healthcare outsourcing highly correlates with several types of hospital controlling authorities and specialties. Third, it argues that healthcare outsourcing has implications in strategic organizational issues, professionalism, and organizational ethics that warrant further public policy discussions before expanding its limited use beyond hospital “hotel functions” and back office business processes. Finally, it devises an outsourcing suitability scale that organizations can utilize to ensure the most strategic option for outsourcing and concludes with some public policy implications and recommendations for its limited use. ^

El autor ante sus lectores en el siglo XVII : El vértigo de la imprenta

La imprenta, como cualquier otra tecnología, responde a unas demandas y produce un impacto en la ideología y el sistema de valores. En este caso afecta directamente a la posición de los autores, en su propia concepción, pero también en la relación con el texto y sus lectores. Entre el rechazo y la atracción, el efecto de la imprenta se traduce en un vértigo con directas manifestaciones en los textos y, sobre todo, en las declaraciones paratextuales. Se propone un acercamiento centrado de manera particular en la narrativa del siglo XVII, por su particular vinculación con la imprenta, distinta de la que mantenían la lírica o el teatro, y por los procesos de profesionalización de los autores que se dan en su espacio.

Discursividades sobre el Director de Educación Física en el Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de la ACJ

Este estudio se propone una indagación sobre las principales discursividades en torno a la formación de los "directores de educación física" durante el proceso fundacional del Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de las Asociaciones Cristianas de Jóvenes creado en 1922. Este texto es parte de una indagación más amplia sobre las discursividades de la formación de los docentes de educación física en el Uruguay. El interés por el estudio de esta formación se debe al impacto que ha tenido en nuestro país, fundamentalmente en las primeras dos décadas de su existencia, cuando no había otra formación de estas características. Se parte de un enfoque teórico-metodologico del análisis de discurso de Pêcheux (1990) y de los aportes de Foucault (1991) en relación a la constitución de la episteme moderna. Se toman como principales fuentes de indagación los programas de estudio de esta formación, así como los documentos fundacionales del Instituto. Entre los principales hallazgos se destaca, por una parte, la gran influencia del asociacionismo norteamericano que tuvo esta formación y por otra parte, que esta se ve matrizada por algunos aspectos de una discursividad normalista imbricados con componentes de una discursividad tecnicista y con ciertos atisbos de profesionalismo

El autor ante sus lectores en el siglo XVII : El vértigo de la imprenta

La imprenta, como cualquier otra tecnología, responde a unas demandas y produce un impacto en la ideología y el sistema de valores. En este caso afecta directamente a la posición de los autores, en su propia concepción, pero también en la relación con el texto y sus lectores. Entre el rechazo y la atracción, el efecto de la imprenta se traduce en un vértigo con directas manifestaciones en los textos y, sobre todo, en las declaraciones paratextuales. Se propone un acercamiento centrado de manera particular en la narrativa del siglo XVII, por su particular vinculación con la imprenta, distinta de la que mantenían la lírica o el teatro, y por los procesos de profesionalización de los autores que se dan en su espacio.

Discursividades sobre el Director de Educación Física en el Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de la ACJ

Este estudio se propone una indagación sobre las principales discursividades en torno a la formación de los "directores de educación física" durante el proceso fundacional del Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de las Asociaciones Cristianas de Jóvenes creado en 1922. Este texto es parte de una indagación más amplia sobre las discursividades de la formación de los docentes de educación física en el Uruguay. El interés por el estudio de esta formación se debe al impacto que ha tenido en nuestro país, fundamentalmente en las primeras dos décadas de su existencia, cuando no había otra formación de estas características. Se parte de un enfoque teórico-metodologico del análisis de discurso de Pêcheux (1990) y de los aportes de Foucault (1991) en relación a la constitución de la episteme moderna. Se toman como principales fuentes de indagación los programas de estudio de esta formación, así como los documentos fundacionales del Instituto. Entre los principales hallazgos se destaca, por una parte, la gran influencia del asociacionismo norteamericano que tuvo esta formación y por otra parte, que esta se ve matrizada por algunos aspectos de una discursividad normalista imbricados con componentes de una discursividad tecnicista y con ciertos atisbos de profesionalismo

El autor ante sus lectores en el siglo XVII : El vértigo de la imprenta

La imprenta, como cualquier otra tecnología, responde a unas demandas y produce un impacto en la ideología y el sistema de valores. En este caso afecta directamente a la posición de los autores, en su propia concepción, pero también en la relación con el texto y sus lectores. Entre el rechazo y la atracción, el efecto de la imprenta se traduce en un vértigo con directas manifestaciones en los textos y, sobre todo, en las declaraciones paratextuales. Se propone un acercamiento centrado de manera particular en la narrativa del siglo XVII, por su particular vinculación con la imprenta, distinta de la que mantenían la lírica o el teatro, y por los procesos de profesionalización de los autores que se dan en su espacio.

Discursividades sobre el Director de Educación Física en el Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de la ACJ

Este estudio se propone una indagación sobre las principales discursividades en torno a la formación de los "directores de educación física" durante el proceso fundacional del Instituto Técnico Sudamericano de las Asociaciones Cristianas de Jóvenes creado en 1922. Este texto es parte de una indagación más amplia sobre las discursividades de la formación de los docentes de educación física en el Uruguay. El interés por el estudio de esta formación se debe al impacto que ha tenido en nuestro país, fundamentalmente en las primeras dos décadas de su existencia, cuando no había otra formación de estas características. Se parte de un enfoque teórico-metodologico del análisis de discurso de Pêcheux (1990) y de los aportes de Foucault (1991) en relación a la constitución de la episteme moderna. Se toman como principales fuentes de indagación los programas de estudio de esta formación, así como los documentos fundacionales del Instituto. Entre los principales hallazgos se destaca, por una parte, la gran influencia del asociacionismo norteamericano que tuvo esta formación y por otra parte, que esta se ve matrizada por algunos aspectos de una discursividad normalista imbricados con componentes de una discursividad tecnicista y con ciertos atisbos de profesionalismo

3.4 United States Supreme Court 1938

Gaines’ legal team, led by Houston, had faith in the justice system of the United States and anticipated getting a fair trial at the federal level. So far, all decisions had occurred in Missouri, a state with a segregated system.The fact that Gaines v Canada had reached the Supreme Court was promising indeed. It was rare that any case involving African-Americans would be considered by the highest court in the land. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been appointing Justices that were more willing to consider cases concerned with civil rights. On November 9, 1938, the Supreme Court of the United States heard arguments in the Gaines v Canada case. The defense was unmoved by the rude treatment and made their presentation with professionalism and aplomb. Houston’s argument remained steadfast; not only was the state of Missouri’s statute concerning out-of-state tuition for blacks in violation of the 14th Amendment, but the very idea of segregation itself violated the Constitution. William Hogsett, the attorney for the University of Missouri, countered that the school was merely following state laws. The MU legal team was flustered as questions from the bench forced them to correct overstatements regarding Missouri’s “generosity to Negro students”. With crossed fingers and high hopes, the Gaines legal team rested their case and awaited the verdict. Meanwhile, Lloyd Gaines was still in Michigan. Lloyd held a W.P.A. job as a Civil Service Clerk and was in constant contact with his family and attorneys. His mood in his correspondence was hopeful and positive.

Performing the personal within the organizational: Communicating professional identities through Taiwanese commercial airline pilots' personal narratives

This dissertation project explored professionalism and the performance of identities by examining Taiwanese commercial airline pilots' discursive practices in everyday life. The intentions for this project were to not only expand current knowledge of organizational communication from a critical rhetorical perspective, but to further explore the under-appreciated concept of professionalism of organizational members. Theoretically, I traced theoretical analysis in the sociology of professions and further investigated scholarship from identity research in organizational communication studies. This research agenda helped to advance communication-based understandings of the meanings and practices of professional identity as a complement to the sociological conception. I further merged a performance paradigm and critical rhetorical perspective to examine the discursive practices of organizational members and to challenge the bias of traditional textual approaches. Methodologically, I conducted ethnographic interviews with Taiwanese commercial airline pilots in order to understand how they construct their personal, social, and professional identities. Five narrative themes were identified and demonstrated in this project: (1) It takes a lot to become a commercial airline pilot, (2) Being a professional commercial airline pilot is to build up sufficient knowledge, beyond average skill, and correct attitude, (3) Pilots' resistance and dissent toward company management, (4) Popular (re)presentation influences professionalism, (5) Power and fear affect professionalism. Pilots' personal narratives were presented in performative writing and in poetic transcription to make word alive with sounds featuring their meanings. Their personal storytelling created a dialogic space to not only let pilots' voice to be heard but also revealed how identities are created within and against a larger organizational identity. Overall, this project demonstrated the interdisciplinary examination of the meanings, functions, and consequence of discursive practices in everyday professional life. It also critiqued relationships between power, domination, and resistance while reintroducing the roles of the body and materiality in the domain of professionalism, and provides ethical readings of larger and complex organizational cultures. Applying communication-oriented analysis to study professionalism indeed challenged the long time neglected phenomena regarding the power of the symbolic in sociological approaches and raised the awareness of structural, material, and bodily condition of work.

Género y desarrollo profesional: las enfermeras de salud pública en la España del período de entreguerras, 1925-1939

La evolución de la profesión de enfermería a lo largo de la historia ha estado marcada por su naturaleza mayoritariamente femenina. A través del ejemplo de las enfermeras de salud pública del periodo entreguerras, se analiza su contribución en las iniciativas de salud comunitaria que se pusieron en marcha en España en las décadas de 1920 y 1930, y se abordan los condicionantes de género que determinaron su actividad y su emergencia como colectivo profesional. La investigación ha permitido visualizar las dos caras de una misma realidad; por un lado la contribución singular de las enfermeras a la salud de la población, y por otro, los obstáculos y dificultades vinculadas a su naturaleza femenina, y que han llegado hasta nuestros días, perpetuando situaciones de desigualdad y discriminación.

Poder y exclusiones formativas en Ciencias de la Salud. Propuestas de mejora en la atención al paciente desde la complementariedad

Introducción: La importancia de los procesos de salud-enfermedad-atención es un hecho universal ejecutado a través de diferentes modelos. Occidente propone el modelo Biomédico, cuyos logros se ven limitados por la exclusión que realiza a las variables socio-culturales del enfermar. Objetivo: Una reflexión sobre las posibilidades de mejora que permitan una asistencia cercana al holismo, determinante no sólo de una mayor profesionalidad sino también de la conformación de una auténtica identidad enfermera, constituye el objetivo esencial. Metodología: Para intentar dar una respuesta sólida nos aventuraremos a la lectura de dos autores clásicos de la talla de Foucault y Gramsci, largamente referenciados en el ámbito de la Antropología médica, permitiéndonos sugerir una línea en la búsqueda de motivos y soluciones sobre la problemática que nos envuelve. Desarrollo: Una vía razonable se vislumbra en el aporte que las formas de atención complementarias posibilitan. En este sentido, la Enfermería actual debe buscar una vuelta a su ethos del cuidado, alejándose así de los preceptos deterministas que la han condenado a la subalternidad. Conclusiones: Un cambio en los patrones formativos se constituye como eje básico que determine una mejora real en los procesos de atención y permitan el derecho básico de una atención de calidad.

Three types of transnational players: differing women's football mobility projects in core and developing countries

Mobile players in men's football are highly skilled professionals who move to a country other than the one where they grew up and started their careers. They are commonly described as migrants or expatriate players. Due to a much less advanced stage of professionalism and production of the game in women's football mobility projects are different. At describing the cases of Brazil, Equatorial Guinea, Mexico, Colombia and Portugal, the aim of this paper is to conceptualise an umbrella category for mobile players that can include current realities in the women's game, namely the transnational player who has gained and displays transnational football experience in different countries and socio-culturally contexts. Furthermore, analyses allow introducing two new subcategories besides the “expatriate”, namely diaspora players and new citizens.