Participatory action research as pedagogy: investigating social and ecological justice learning within a teacher education program

A research collective comprised of teacher candidates, graduate students, and faculty set out to investigate the role and impact of social and ecological justice learning in a teacher education program. Amidst the tensions, negotiations, and articulations of the research design, the collective came to recognize the spaces of participatory action research as sites of growth and efficacy toward justice learning. And, each began to perceive themselves as both impacted by educational structures and as agents enacting their own visions of professional practice. These outcomes are discussed in the context of the growing body of participatory action research, emphasizing the dynamic learning precipitated within the intersections of the research collective. The empirical analysis, involving survey and interview data, brought to bear the rarity of events participants (teacher candidates) recognized as invoking meaningful social and ecological justice learning, and goes some way to describe such learning in terms of embodied experience. The paper closes with a selection of testimonials provided by members of the research collective, offering personal accounts of what was gained through participating in the research process.     

How can I develop a theory of critical self‐reflection?

Although much of the literature on educational action research is rich in recommendations to self‐reflect, it is impoverished in examples of self‐reflective practice. This constitutes a theory‐practice gap; for how is it possible to recommend a particular form of practicewithout living up to that recommendation, and still claim that the practice has integrity? Such a contradiction is particularly serious when the issue is self‐reflection, since self‐reflection is put forward as the main constituent of moral practice, and its denial has deep implications for the practitioner's own moral standing.

In this paper I ask why there is such slippage between the theory and practice of self‐reflection? Iassume that many people either do not perceive such slippage,or choose to ignore it. Either way, this is a serious matter, and involves issues of legitimation—for by what right do we consider ourselves to be exempt from engaging in those self‐same practices that we require of others?

I challenge the separatist view that it is acceptable for some to say what others must do, without first doing it themselves. I apply the same critique to myself, and I aim to show the process of my own self‐reflection by critically analysing what I am doing as I do it. This, I hope, sets the scene for an emergent theory of critical self‐reflection.     

Leadership development in Higher Education: A literature review and implications for programme redesign

Leadership development (LD) activity and its effectiveness has not been explored rigorously across changing university settings globally. As Higher Education settings change radically throughout the world, Higher Education professionals are operating in more uncertain environments, and leaders are taking increasingly complex and diverse approaches to their leadership roles. LD activities therefore become important in supporting this highly complex context, yet little is known in the literature about LD and its impact in Higher Education. We examine peer‐reviewed work on LD in Higher Education settings globally to understand what may be learned about its content, processes, outcomes and impact. Our results suggest the current literature is small‐scale, fragmented and often theoretically weak, with many different and coexisting models, approaches and methods, and little consensus on what may be suitable and effective in the Higher Education context. We reflect on this state of play and develop a novel theoretical approach for designing LD activity in Higher Education institutions.     

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF A GERONTOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Educational programs in academic gerontology with differing formats and requirements have emerged in a variety of educational institutions across Canada and the United States during the past decade. In 1986 and 1987, two gerontology certificate programs were initiated in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. One program is offered through the Faculty of Continuing Education at the local university, the other through the community college's Department of Nursing and Allied Health. Although both programs are multidisciplinary, they differ in their relative emphasis on theory, practice, and research.

The above and other differences were examined by a survey designed to probe why students from a variety of disciplines selected one of these programs over the other. It was hypothesized that variables such as preferred learning style, previous experience with specific types of educational facilities, and influence of peers and work setting would be factors influencing program selection. The results of this study lead to recommendations regarding the status of gerontological credentials in Canada and the need for students to be more aware of program choices.     

Medio lingüístico maternal y retraso mental

RESUMEN

El lenguaje que las madres utilizan con sus hijos es más lento, pausado, simplificado y redundante que el lenguaje adulto. La complejidad del lenguaje materno va aumentando con la edad del niño; estas modificaciones favorecen el desarrollo de las capacidades lingúísticas. El artículo plantea si el entorno lingúístico maternal de niños con retraso mental presenta las mismas características adaptativas. En un principio varios estudios concluyen que el entorno lingúístico maternal de los deficientes está empobrecido, pero investigaciones posteriores revelan que está normalmente adaptado al desarrollo del lenguaje en estos niños. No obstante se sugiere la necesidad de optimizar la eficacia de las interacciones padres-hijos a través de programas de entrenamiento. Estos programas dirigidos a madres de deficientes mentales han sido de gran eficacia en la aceleración del desarrollo del lenguaje.