The instructional designer as a staff developer: A course team approach consistent with the Concerns‐Based Adoption Model

This paper draws upon contingency theory to support a flexible eclectic approach to staff development in distance education. The approach utilizes the Concerns‐Based Adoption Model focussed towards developing instructional design skills in academic staff. Strategies are described for lecturers in each of the seven stages of concern. For the staff development procedures to be effective, it is argued that study materials development should take place within an infrastructure which involves the writer(s) and an instructional designer in a team. Perhaps, the main message of the paper is merely that flexible eclecticism is a desirable approach to staff development — and contingency theory offers that concept — and staff developers need to be mindful of differing staff attitudes — some of which are identified by CBAM.     

Theories of staff development: Progress and power

Abstract

This is the second of two papers which together consider a range of theoretical frames for the interpretation of educational and staff development. The first paper (Webb, 1996c) considered origins of the word ‘development’ and some of the problems caused by its association with ideas of growth and evolution. An alternative approach was presented from the tradition of hermeneutics and human understanding. However, the possibilities for human understanding in staff development and teacher‐student relationships are put at risk by power inequalities. In the present paper this point is developed in terms of a critical theory of society, education and staff development and the associated methods of action research. Claims that critical theory and action research offer a progressive path for staff development are discussed. The question of power is then revisited in terms of post‐modernism, and some consequences for educational and staff development when viewed from this standpoint are outlined.     

IMPROVING TEACHING AND LEARNING IN AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES ‐‐ STAFF (FACULTY) DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES AS A FIELD OF CO‐OPERATION BETWEEN EUROPEAN AND AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES

In virtually all the countries of the world, the need for staff‐development programmes for university and other higher education teachers has been recognized. Because the developed countries of Europe and of North America have a head start in the domain, specialists from these countries have frequently been called upon to create and to offer staff‐development programmes in the universities of developing countries. This article discusses the appropriateness of European conceptions of staff‐development for African universities. Concluding that Euro‐centric staff‐developers and pre‐packaged European programmes are not appropriate, that they run the risk of becoming a form of cultural neo‐colonialism, the author considers ways in which European specialists can collaborate with their African colleagues in the structuring of staff‐development programmes that are not only African‐centred but are geared to the real needs of African universities as they are perceived by Africans themselves. If the author's suggestions are accepted, African universities will be able to make use of those aspects of European staff‐development concepts and programmes which have universal value without having to accept European cultural tutelage along with them.     

Staff Development in Problem-based Learning

It is argued here that for problem-based learning (PBL) to succeed, a sound programme of staff development is required. This paper highlights, from both the literature and from experience, that there is limited research into the process and management of PBL staff development. The current shift towards PBL within higher education suggests that staff development needs to be a key component in any PBL implementation strategy. This paper focuses on the experience of introducing PBL into Nursing and Midwifery curricula at the University of Dundee. It is argued that the staff development described played a key role in the effectiveness of the subsequent implementation of PBL. The key components of such a programme are described with evaluatory evidence to support its efficacy. Recommendations are made for those considering implementing PBL into the curriculum.     

心理契约视角下企业员工忠诚度提升研究

员工忠诚度的高低直接影响企业的健康发展,员工对企业的忠诚是企业实现绩效目标和稳定发展的一个必要条件。组织中的心理契约是联系员工与组织之间的心理纽带,也是影响员工行为和态度的重要因素。现实中造成员工对企业的忠诚度下降的原因,主要在于员工与企业的心理契约不协调。文章从研究心理契约与员工忠诚度间的关系入手,对如何提高员工忠诚度提出几点建议,对企业人力资源管理者有一定的现实意义。     

Staff appraisal: Lessons from United Kingdom industry?

Abstract

This paper examines staff appraisal and development in industrial and commercial organizations in the United Kingdom and discusses the extent to which the educational system can learn from them.

The appraisal and development programmes in three large organizations in the East Midlands region of England are reviewed and the extent to which the sort of models found in business might be applied to education is considered.

It is argued that industrial/commercial models of staff appraisal can be applied effectively in the educational context as long as they are tied in with the staff development process. A tenative list of recommendations felt to be applicable to the introduction of appraisal in education, and particularly further education, is provided.     

Academic development units and the improvement of teaching

A survey of those educational development practices which directors of educational (academic) development units in Australia found most effective in their institutions for the improvement of teaching was conducted in late 1983. The responses are presented and discussed.Academic staff are one of the targets of educational development. A series of interviews with 100 academic staff of the University of Queensland at about the same time confirmed that the approaches taken by units for improving teaching are approved of by staff. In particular staff recognised and valued the connection between evaluation and development.The staff development programme at the University of Queensland responded to the expressed needs of staff for specific developmental activities. It is described as one example of a systematic approach to staff development with emphasis on formal workshops/seminar sessions and evaluation of teaching. Practicalities and problems are discussed.This article is derived from an invited paper to the conference, Tertiary Teaching. Techniques for Improvement - The Australian Experience, University of Western Australia, 18 May 1984.     

Cooperation in European Construction Education: The Development of the Master's Degree Course in European Construction Engineering

The Master's degree course in European Construction Engineering has many unique features. Its students come from several different European countries, each student studies in at least three different European locations, and the teaching staff are drawn from seven different European universities. The course is therefore genuinely multinational and European. The development and delivery of the course over the past 6 years has revealed fundamental differences in European education practices which have provided a learning experience for both students and staff. This paper describes the course development and discusses some of the issues that have arisen during the development process, many of which are yet to be finally resolved.     

Measuring faculty learning in curriculum and teaching competence online courses

Online education is used for a variety of purposes in higher education. Two such purposes are improving one's performance over time and understanding one's professional development in the context of online teaching and learning. Relying on data from online staff development courses delivered in five Spanish universities, this article explores online faculty learning through the lens of staff development theory. This theoretical perspective emphasizes the universities' quality assurance contexts and offers an empirical examination of the ways in which faculty members learn curriculum and teaching competencies (CTCs) in online staff development programmes. At the core of this analysis is the contention that faculty members understand and respond to quality teaching lessons and activities. Finally, this study highlights the points deemed important when designing, implementing, and evaluating Internet CTC training courses.     

Staff development: Old dogs can learn new tricks

Abstract

Peer coaching, study groups, and mentoring are all valuable methods for staff development. When all three can occur during the same year with a group of veteran teachers, the result is a learning community that enhances shared professionalism. This article describes such a year in which four veteran teachers came to teach in a residential high school for gifted and talented adolescents. This article reports that the focus from the perspective of the staff developer, as well as the focus from the perspective of three of the four teachers, emphasizes the power of these formats for professional development.     

Social capital and the evaluation of inclusiveness in Scottish further education colleges

Educational establishments are now legally bound to create inclusive learning environments. However, successful implementation will depend on changes in the culture and ethos of these institutions, as well as shifts in the attitudes and practices of staff. This article reports on the findings of an evaluation of staff development sessions led by the Scottish Further Education Unit (SFEU). The social model of disability developed by disabled people was used to analyse the barriers to inclusiveness as identified by staff and students. Through the concept of ‘social capital’, which focuses on the networks, norms and trust between individuals, the extent to which SFEU staff development activities had led to more inclusive practice was assessed. An example of the way in which SFEU staff purposefully encouraged the establishment of social capital is given. Finally, the possibilities for the development of more inclusive further education contexts are discussed.     

Staff development for effective secondary schools: A synthesis of research

While recent work has synthesized some empirically supported characteristics of secondary school effectiveness, the role of staff development in establishing such characteristics has not been examined. Using a framework which categorizes these characteristics within three critical dimensions of staff development, a process of configurative mapping is carried out from the reported outcomes of staff development studies in order to illuminate associations between staff development studies and effective school variables. Two consistent patterns emerge from which broad guidelines for the conduct of staff development are described. Constraints identified by the literature in targeting staff development towards the creation of the characteristics of an effective secondary school are also discussed.     

Staff development in a climate of economic rationalism: A profile of the academic staff developer

Abstract

This paper emerged from the findings of a study investigating the efficacy of a staff development programme, called TRAC (Teaching, Reflection and Collaboration), offered through Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. Participants in this study indicated an express need for academic staff developers to foster a range of skills when seeking to implement exemplary staff development programmes. One of the most crucial skills stipulated by participants was the ability for staff developers to offer development opportunities which effectively cater to the current hectic, competitive and outcome‐driven climate academics face. Other skills considered by participants to be pivotal for the development and implementation of exemplary staff development programmes included well‐developed human relation and interpersonal skills, facilitative skills and skills in co‐ordinating and networking.

This paper begins by ‘setting the scene’, briefly outlining the TRAC programme and the author's research experience of this programme. Subsequently, it discusses the skills required of the developer instigating such a programme. In doing this, it aims to encourage developers to reflect on the efficacy of their own skills with a view to making appropriate changes. Thus, in attempting to trigger change in developers’ practice, this paper represents a vehicle for ‘development of the developers.’     

Editorial

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a staff development project involving school‐university collaborative research. While computer technology was being implemented at Bayside Middle School, teachers engaged in action research projects. This form of professional development links personally relevant questions of teaching practice with academic theories of learning. Research findings are discussed, along with implications of action research as a model for staff development.     

Staff development by stealth

An innovation in staff development in 1985 at Birmingham Polytechnic (now the University of Central England) led to the introduction of staff developers in all faculties. The faculty staff developers were ascribed a product-oriented model of practice. The model emphasises the delivery of material resources to enhance professional competence. To illuminate the model of practice implied by the innovation, a multiplicity of research methods were used, including participant observation. The faculty staff developers formed and promoted Faculty Learning Centres for which they had the support of the deans of faculties. Academic staff made mixed use of the facilities of the Faculty Learning Centres; on average they were satisfied with them, but they consulted the faculty staff developers very little. The author concludes that the product-oriented model of practice offers a limited contribution to the process of staff development. He prefers the eclectic model (Boud and McDonald 1981) which features negotiation between staff developer and client. This requires a broad range of expertise in the developers and carries implications for their selection, training and continuing support.     

Evidence and benefits of postgraduate international students-staff members partnership in extra-curricular activities: a Malaysian perspective

ABSTRACT

The student engagement concept has been revolutionised so that students play an active role alongside staff members in determining their student learning experiences. Although the development of student–staff partnerships enhances student engagement and experience, empirical research on partnerships in Malaysia is scant. This paper contributes to the growing scholarly literature on such partnerships – in particular, exploring postgraduate international students and staff members’ partnership dimensions in extra-curricular activities at a research university in Malaysia. This qualitative study interviewed 33 postgraduate international students, 10 academic staff and 12 professional staff members. Based on the findings, the student–staff partnership model is well integrated into the extra-curricular activities: international students are invited to co-design and implement adjustment programmes for newly arrived international students. This paper also explores the multi-layered benefits of partnerships for postgraduate international students and for staff members. The implications of such partnerships for the university, international students and staff members are discussed.     

In Search of Staff Development: A study of academic staff appraisal

The academic award restructuring of 1991 established a trial period for academic staff appraisal for the purposes of staff development. The trend in Australia towards more formal performance management for academics has occurred during a period of substantial change to the structure of higher education and institutional management, and brought debate on whether appraisal, for either summative purposes (where performance assessment is for remuneration or promotion purposes) or formative purposes (where the emphasis is on planning personal development), is appropriate for academic staff. Arguments have been put forward for the benefits of appraisal processes with primarily developmental intent. Thus far there have been reports of the characteristics and processes of appraisal schemes, but less data on outcomes; in particular, little evidence to indicate the extent to which schemes lead to worthwhile staff development. This paper reports selected findings of a study of the evolving appraisal scheme of The University of Melbourne. The study was conducted after the scheme's second year of operation by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education which played an advisory role in an internal review of the scheme. The findings reveal some uncertainty among staff about the intentions of the scheme, and tensions between summative and formative purposes, perhaps not surprising given the contentious issue which staff appraisal has been in higher education. Nevertheless, positive outcomes were identified, but possibly too few to claim that the scheme was fully achieving a developmental objective. These findings raise questions about the effectiveness of academic staff appraisal nationally and suggest that it is time to reconsider the policy linkage between appraisal and staff development.     

A Model for Staff Development in Information Technology within Initial Teacher Training Institutions

ABSTRACT

This paper reflects on the uptake of information technology (IT) as a delivery strategy in the learning and teaching processes and suggests that it is no longer satisfactory from the pupils' perspective to leave this to informal staff development strategies. The ability to use IT appropriately and effectively in the classroom must be thoroughly embedded in the pedagogy of teacher training institutions. For this to happen, these institutions need to adopt interventionist strategies for staff development so that learning through IT is a process that all student teachers experience, evaluate and learn to manage in the classroom situation. This paper examines a project for staff development in IT in a particular college and, following on the project's success, offers it as a possible model for successful staff development in IT.     

Future and changing roles of staff in distance education: a study to identify training and professional development needs

Abstract

The roles of distance education teaching staff are changing, necessitating role clarity and the development of appropriate competency frameworks. This article investigates the perceptions of the teaching and research staff at the University of South Africa, regarding the current and future roles of distance educators, their own competencies in each role and training that they require in order to address competencies required in these future roles. This research forms part of a larger project that focuses on capacity and continuous professional development processes that are necessary to train staff to be prepared for these changing roles. A quantitative web-based survey was sent to all academic (teaching and research) staff at the University of South Africa. Key results indicate that competencies in the roles of technology and instructional design have emerged as crucial for distance educators, and that future training programmes need to be developed to support these areas.