Magistro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjami ikimokyklinės įstaigos vadovo vadybinės kompetencijos, kurios yra svarbios vadovaujant ir valdant ikimokyklinės įstaigos veiklą. Magistrinio darbo tikslas: išanalizuoti šiuolaikinės ikimokyklinės įstaigos vadovo vadybines kompetencijas, tikslus užtikrinant sėkmingą veiklą ir ugdymo kokybę. Teorinėje baigiamojo darbo dalyje aptariami ikimokyklinės įstaigos vadovas kaip vadybininkas, kaip lyderis, išryškinamos pagrindinės vadybinės kompetencijos - švietimo politikos išmanymas ir mokyklos strategijos kūrimas, strateginio plano rengimas bei jo įgyvendinimas, ugdymo proceso valdymas, žmogiškųjų išteklių valdymas bei turto ir lėšų valdymas - kurių pagrindų formuojama ikimokyklinės įstaigos veikla. Pagrindžiama ikimokyklinės įstaigos vadovo vadybinių kompetencijų svarba koordinuojant ugdymo įstaigą, vadovo vadybinių kompetencijų svarba siejama su personalo tobulinimu, kvalifikacijos kėlimu. Tiriamojoje šio darbo dalyje nagrinėjama ikimokyklinių įstaigų vadovų ir ikimokyklinių įstaigų pedagogų požiūris į vadovų vadybines kompetencijas, vadovų funkcijas, analizuojami vadovų ir pedagogų samprotavimai bei atsakymai, analizuojama, kaip bendruomenė dalyvauja visos ikimokyklinės įstaigos veikloje, jos valdyme. Pateikiama ikimokyklinės įstaigos vadovo ir pedagogų nuomonė dėl personalo tobulinimo, kuris tenkintų vadovo ir pedagogo poreikius ir darytų pozityvią įtaką visos ikimokyklinės įstaigos veiklai. / Competence in management of preschool institution‘s executives is researched in master’s degree final work, issue, which is crucial to manage and administer preschool institution‘s activities. Aim of master‘s final work: to analyze competence in management of modern executives of preschool institutions and goals of executives to secure successful activities and quality of education. In the theoretical part of this final work, executives of preschool institutions role as a manager, as a leader is discussed, main competences in management are pointed- knowledge of education politics and development of school strategy, planning and realization of strategy plan, management of educational process, management of human resources, finance and assets management- on the grounds of that, activities of preschool institutions are formed. In coordination process of educational institutions, importance of competence in management of executives of preschool institutions is reasoned, importance of competence in management of executives is associated with development of personnel and rise of qualification. In the exploratory part of final work, it is shown approach of executives and educators of preschool institutions to competences in management of executives, office of executives are analyzed, executives and educators reasoning and responses are analyzed, also how society participates in all activities of preschool institutions, management of activities. Opinion about personnel... [to full text]

Interactions between business counterparts have become increasingly free from boundaries, as technological innovation brings the world closer together (Adler, 2002). Locally, the typical South African organisation employs workers from a multitude of cultural backgrounds, at various levels of acculturation. Organisational coaches must be prepared to engage with diverse national and international client populations. Coaching bodies such as the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC, 2008) and the locally-based Coaches and Mentors of South Africa (COMENSA, 2009; COMENSA, 2010), require coaches to provide culturally responsive services to coachees. If the coach differs culturally from the coachee, he/she may incorrectly use his/her own understanding of what is appropriate for a situation to make sense of the coachee’s behaviour, possibly leading to the misinterpretation of the diverse coachee’s situation. In addition, the coach may also project his/her own cultural bias and stereotypes onto the coachee. This in turn may lead to barriers in communication, and ultimately to the inhibition of efficiency of the coaching process as possible outcomes. Inefficient coaching may not allow for the achievement of the desired results, leading to financial losses for the company. Therefore, it is imperative that the coach is aware of his/her own culturally-laden values, beliefs and expectations which may include biases, prejudices and stereotypes held about the coachee, i.e. his/ her cultural self-awareness. The purpose of the current research study was to explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of South African organisational coaches in terms of cultural self-awareness. Specifically the study investigated how eight South African organisational coaches (N = 8) develop, maintain and promote cultural self-awareness, and what the perceived consequences of such awareness were. The study was conducted within the constructivist research paradigm and utilised a qualitative research approach. The multiple case study research strategy employed in-depth interviews to collect the research data. A grounded theory research methodology was used to analyse and explore the experiences and perceptions of South African organisational coaches in developing and utilising cultural self-awareness. Eight findings were obtained from the interviews, namely: the cultural self-awareness cultivated during coaching developed as part of a general process of cultural self-awareness, which in turn formed part of the participants’ personal development; both intentional strategies and happenstance led to the coaches’ cultural self-awareness; situational and internal factors contributed to changes in their cultural self-awareness; cultural self-awareness is maintained through self-management involving internal and external strategies; future cultural self-awareness is promoted through pursuing experiences that would cause them to question bias; a change in cultural self-awareness held consequences for the personal developmental process as well as for the coachee, and the coaching process; the meaning of cultural self-awareness was explained by using metaphors. The most prominent metaphors the coaches used were ‘sight’, ‘the past’, ‘internal work’, and ‘managing’; additional psychosocial processes that occur during intercultural coaching which can be grouped under macro, meso and micro issues, contextualised the process of cultural self-awareness during intercultural coaching. The findings were interpreted to show that various levels, developmental paths, and applications of cultural self-awareness exist amongst organisational coaches. On the basis of the results obtained from the research study, recommendations were made for future research, coaching education and training programmes, coaching clients, and current or prospective coaches. / Thesis (MA (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

Effective teaching that promotes learners’ active engagement and the development of communicative proficiency has been a challenge to teachers of English as a second language (ESL). Previous research on second language (L2) teaching has shown that L2 learners improve better in communicative skills when they are actively engaged, participate in communicative tasks that facilitate interaction and are provided with the opportunity to use the target language in the classroom. This study focuses on improving ESL learners’ learning outcomes in remotely-located primary schools in Nigeria. The study aimed to test whether the introduction of Personal Response System (PRS) and communicative approach can improve pupils’ English-language communicative competences and their attitudes towards English learning. Specifically, this study examined the extent to which significant differences exist in pupils’ communicative competence performance scores and learning gains based on teachers’ use of a communicative approach, PRS and lecture methods in the ESL classroom. Furthermore, the research also attempted to find out whether pupils’ attitudes towards the learning of English would significantly differ based on teaching strategy. Attitudes of pupils and teachers towards the interventions were also investigated. A pre-test and post-test non-randomised control group design was adopted in this study. Some qualitative data were also collected to augment the quantitative main data. Ninety nine pupils from three intact classes in different schools in Ijebu-North local government, Ogun-State, Nigeria were assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. In addition to the traditional use of textbooks, one of the experimental groups was taught using communicative activities, while the second experimental group experienced communicative tasks blended with the use of a personal response system. The control group received the conventional classroom instruction (lecture method), including the use of the English language textbook. In order to provide answers to the research questions and the hypothesis of this study, English Language Listening Tests and English Language Speaking Tests, Pupils’ Attitude to English Language Lesson Questionnaire, Pupils’ Attitude to Clickers’ Questionnaire and Pupils’ Attitude to Communicative Approach Questionnaire were administered at the pre-and post-test stages of the research. These instruments were also complemented with data from classroom observation, video recording of the instructional process, and audio-recorded interviews with the teachers and selected pupils in the experimental groups. The results indicate that the two experimental groups showed greater improvement in communicative competence than did the control group; but the PRS group improved more than the communicative approach group both in listening and speaking skills development. Moreover, pupils’ learning gains were statistically different, with the PRS group having the highest gain scores above the communicative approach group, while the control group did not experience increased learning gains. The results also reveal pupils’ mixed-reactions with respect to their attitudes toward the English language lesson and the interventions. Teachers’ attitudes toward the interventions were in the positive direction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the principles and factors underlying the culturally competent nursing care of asylum applicants. Asylum applicants are a highly vulnerable group, whose health is often severely compromised prior to arrival in the UK due to exposure to torture, violence and rape. Although they are entitled to primary health care services whilst their asylum claim is under consideration, their level of welfare support has been significantly eroded over the last decade. An analysis of the nursing literature revealed mainly US notions of cultural competence, which were based on a private health care insurance system rather than a universal health care system of equitable, accessible and non-discriminatory service provision, such as the NHS. A Five Steps Model of cultural competence (Quickfall 2004) was later revised to provide a theoretical framework for this research study. Data for this ethnographic study were collected during 2005-2007 with asylum applicants and community nurses within one Health Board in Scotland, using participant observation, individual, narrative and group interview methods. The data were analysed for their categorical content. The findings are presented as vignettes to highlight cultural competence issues. Three major themes emerge from the study findings, which highlight the intermediary function of community nursing. The provision of equitable, accessible and non-discriminatory services remains pertinent in the 21st century. Secondly, the cross-cultural promotion of health involves a partnership process to ensure effective communication and the negotiation of person centred care. Thirdly, the delivery of socially inclusive services requires the aiding of asylum applicant adaptation to a new host environment. This study contributes to community nursing knowledge in explaining, through synthesis of the literature and study data, a model of cultural competence for the care of asylum applicants. It also provides a set of best practice statements, which require further investigation.

This thesis reports the findings of research conducted with Irish primary teachers who had recently completed probation. The study employed semi-structured interviews to examine the teachers’ perceptions of beneficial influences on the development of their teaching identity. The principals of the two schools involved were also interviewed. The interviews were designed to allow me to explore influences that had been identified in the literature as important in the formation of teacher identity. In the interviews, themes that have been identified in the literature on teacher identity were explored with participants. The teachers identified incidents and persons whom they perceived as having inspired them to become teachers. Their perceptions of how their interactions with pupils and parents had influenced their identities were examined, as were their experiences of school cultures and of working in collaboration with colleagues. Finally, their awareness of theoretical literature as a tool to help their further development was examined. The findings of the study confirm that teachers’ identities are formed by a combination of factors and add a more detailed understanding of those factors in the Irish context. Beginning teachers are influenced strongly by their own biographies, and by their experiences as students prior to and during their pre-service teacher education. They are sensitive to the perceptions of them by parents and pupils. Their willingness to engage collaboratively with other colleagues, including their principals and mentors, features strongly in their own perceptions of how their identities have been formed. The importance of the school culture in helping to shape the teacher’s identity is highlighted as a phenomenon which both shapes and is reshaped in turn by teachers and their colleagues. Literature is generally not considered relevant by the Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in this study, although the principals’ responses indicate their familiarity with themes common in the literature concerning teacher induction, and with concepts of teachers as reflective practitioners who need to continuously examine their practice and experience in order to promote the ongoing shaping of their identity as teachers. The thesis argues for a conception of teacher professionalism which respects the identity of teachers and the agency of teachers as individuals in a world of individuals who are engaged in the constructionist creation of knowledge. This understanding prioritises practical wisdom, phronesis, over the technical knowledge, techne, and knowledge of subject, episteme, which teachers also require. This is at odds with widespread competency-based conceptions of teacher professionalism. The findings of the research indicate that the development of teacher identity is complex and is affected by a broader range of influences than the imperative to develop competencies. It calls for an alternative approach to teacher induction which acknowledges the importance of these factors.

Background: Physical literacy has been adopted in PE, sport and recreation to develop active participation in Canada. Physical literacy (PL) is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life (IPLA 2015). There are three proposed domains (physical, psychological, and behavioural) for PL. Little is known about PL in children and youth. Aims: Aim 1: To characterize PL in children and youth, and to relate PL to health related fitness, performance and physical activity. Aim 2: To evaluate a PL intervention (Run Jump Throw) in grade 3/4 PE. Methods: Design: Cross-sectional (n=299, grades 3, 4, 8 and 12) and quasi-experimental intervention (n=199, 4 intervention, 4 matched comparison schools, Grade 3/4, Run Jump Throw Intervention). Instruments: Physical Literacy Assessment of Youth tools (PLAY Fun, PLAY Self, PLAY Inventory), BMI, waist circumference (WC), 20 meter shuttle run (CVFIT), sprint speed (SPEED), accelerometer measured physical activity (PA), Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) and the Motivation to Physical Activity Measure (MPAM). Results: Motor competence increased with grade (p<0.01). Substantial gaps (3.4% object control) in motor competence between males and females (M>F, P<0.01) identified in grade 4, the gap widens with grade (16.6% by grade 12). Motor competence was correlated (p<0.01) to -0.29 WC, -0.48 BMI, 0.54 PA, 0.56 CVFIT, 0.86 SPEED, 0.23 MPAM, and 0.5 PSDQ. The affective/cognitive domain of PLAY Self was correlated to (p<0.01) to -0.22 BMI, 0.33 PA, 0.42 PLAY Inventory, 0.46 CVFIT, 0.45 SPEED, 0.44 MPAM, and 0.79 PSDQ. Moderate associations were observed between physical and psychological domains of physical literacy. PLAY Self demonstrated convergent validity with PSDQ and MPAM. The Run Jump Throw intervention improved motor competence (5.5%, p<0.01), and was greater than comparison schools (3.5%, p<0.05). Conclusion: Physical literacy shows appropriate linkages to health related outcomes in two key domains, physical and psychological. The gender gap in physical literacy is alarming, and requires studies for remediation. These results support the notion that PL may be a gateway to physical activity in youth, and that PL can be enhanced by means of quality PL enriched lesson plans in schools. / February 2017

This essay aims to find out how Hillary Clinton is portrayed in news articles dated between October 8th to November 8th 2016 gathered from Fox News and CNN. With the help of qualitative framing analysis the study looks closer on 14 articles from the chosen time period to reveal which frames that are visible in the news material. The study also raises questions about how those frames portray masculinity or femininity and how the results of the study differs from studies done by other researchers. Results reveal that there are three prominent frames visible in the chosen material; a game frame, a scandal frame and a frame about competence and trustworthiness. Hillary Clinton is mostly portrayed as a masculine, competent yet criminal person, and the previous research matches with the findings in some areas that concern scandals and trust and differs in others that concern gender stereotypes.

Lo scopo di questa tesi è affrontare l'internazionalizzazione di un’università in termini di sviluppo e valutazione della competenza interculturale attraverso un intervento pedagogico efficace e sostenibile che prepari gli studenti a vivere in un mondo globalizzato. La mia ricerca ha utilizzato un approccio randomizzato e metodi misti sperimentali con una combinazione di otto distinti studi longitudinali e trasversali che hanno coinvolto un totale di 16.787 studenti iscritti presso università statunitensi, esaminati nel corso dei quattro anni di studio, dal primo anno fino alla laurea, con una particolare attenzione per 3.725 studenti della Bellarmine University di Louisville, in Kentucky. Si è lavorato inoltre con il più grande insieme di dati di studi IDI intrapresi fino ad oggi, con 1.812 partecipanti contro i 1.159 dell'ultimo lavoro sull’impatto degli studi IDI sui corsi all'estero, il Georgetown Consortium Study, facente riferimento al periodo 2003-2005. La mia ricerca su queste serie di dati si è concentrata in particolare sull’efficacia di uno specifico curriculum d'intervento per studenti coinvolti in programmi di studio all’estero. Ho analizzato il livello di sviluppo della competenza interculturale attraverso la somministrazione di test precedenti e successivi al loro periodo all’estero in merito a una varietà di esperienze universitarie, dando particolare attenzione sia in termini quantitativi sia qualitativi all'impatto dei corsi interculturali seguiti all'estero. L'approccio pedagogico è stato progettato dal ricercatore con l’intento di riflettere l’attuale cambiamento di paradigma in atto nell'apprendimento all'estero e si basa su un intervento guidato allo scopo di raggiungere risultati di apprendimento espliciti piuttosto che lasciare l'apprendimento interculturale al caso. I risultati dei miei vari studi forniscono risposte decisamente positive alla domanda centrale di questo progetto: “Se l'internazionalizzazione dell'istruzione superiore è in parte misurata dal livello di competenza interculturale sviluppata dai suoi laureati, può allora un’esperienza universitaria di quattro anni, come quella delle università statunitensi di studi umanistici, sviluppare competenze interculturali attraverso una serie di attività ed esperienze di apprendimento curricolare ed extracurricolare, sia all’interno dell’università che al di fuori di essa? Se sì, in che misura?” 7 Le conclusioni tratte dai risultati dei vari studi quantitativi e qualitativi contenuti in questo elaborato supportano fortemente il mio quadro di intervento pedagogico, denominato Framework for Reflective Intervention in Learning Abroad (FRILA) e basato sulla teoria dell'apprendimento esperienziale, il modello di sviluppo della sensibilità interculturale (la teoria DMIS) (Bennett, 1986) e la pedagogia culturalmente rilevante per l'apprendimento all'estero. Le implicazioni di questa ricerca nell’ambito dell'istruzione internazionale sono tali che, per ottenere una vera trasformazione durante l'apprendimento all'estero, è fondamentale che le università offrano agli studenti la possibilità di accedere a un programma guidato che ponga l’enfasi sul coinvolgimento e la riflessione. / The purpose of this study is to address the internationalization of a university in terms of the development and assessment of intercultural competence via an effective and sustainable intervention pedagogy in support of preparing students for a globalized world. My research utilized a randomized experimental, mixed methods approach with a combination of eight separate longitudinal and cross-sectional studies referencing a total of 16,787 students at U.S. institutions over four years from freshmen year until graduation with particular focus on 3725 students at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, including the largest data set of IDI studies undertaken to date, 1812 participants versus 1159 in the last IDI study abroad impact study, the Georgetown Consortium Study in 2003-2005. My research involving these data sets focused specifically on the effectiveness of a special intervention curriculum for students engaged in learning abroad. I analyzed the level of intercultural competence development through pre and post testing vis-à-vis a variety of high impact college experiences, giving special quantitative and qualitative research attention to the impact of intercultural course work abroad. The pedagogical approach was designed by the researcher to reflect the current paradigm shift in learning abroad, relying on guided intervention to achieve explicit learning outcomes rather than leaving intercultural learning to chance. The findings from my various studies provide compelling positive answers to this research’s central question: “If the impact of internationalization of higher education is in part measured by the level of intercultural competence developed by its graduates, can a U.S. liberal arts college experience over four years develop intercultural competence via curricular and extracurricular learning on and off campus, and if it can to what extent?” 5 Conclusions from the findings from the various quantitative and qualitative studies reflected in this dissertation, strongly support my intervention pedagogy framework, referred to as the Framework for Reflective Intervention in Learning Abroad (FRILA), based on experiential learning theory, the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS theory) (Bennett, 1986), and culturally relevant pedagogy in learning abroad. The implications of this research for the field of international education are such that in order for real transformation to occur during learning abroad, it is imperative that universities give students access to a guided curriculum with emphasis on engagement and reflection.

The aim of this study was to explore the perceived multicultural disability competence of master’s-level counseling students in CACREP-accredited programs given their disability-related life experience(s) and multicultural counseling course completion and to assess the extent to which the topic of ability/disability is addressed in multicultural counseling coursework. Participants (n = 285) were electronically surveyed using the Counseling Clientswith Disabilities Survey (CCDS; Strike, 2001) and a researcher developed biographical questionnaire. Collectively, study results indicated that both disability-related life experience(s) and multicultural counseling course completion positively impacted participant perceived multicultural disability competence. However, disability-related life experience(s) seemed to have a greater level of impact and significantly predicted self-awareness, perceived knowledge, and perceived skills. Results of this study indicated that the topic of ability/disability or persons with disabilities is given less attention than other topics covered in multicultural counseling courses within CACREP-accredited programs.

Treatment integrity—the extent to which a treatment is delivered as it was intended—has long been recognized as critically important in treatment evaluation research, but has garnered increased attention in recent years within the context of dissemination and implementation science. However, the field’s development has been hindered by inadequate measurement tools. This project is focused on developing and evaluating the psychometric strength of two measures of treatment integrity. To evaluate the psychometric strength of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Therapist Adherence Scale (CBAY-A)and the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth Anxiety Therapist Competence Scale (CBAY-C), 954 psychotherapy sessions from two treatment evaluation studies were coded. Analysis of the evidence for reliability and validity of the item scores for each measure provide substantial support for each measure, while also highlighting areas in need of further evaluation. The discussion focuses on interpreting the psychometric strength of the CBAY-A and CBAY-C compared to other measures of treatment integrity, next steps for evaluating the psychometric strength of the two measures, and potential applications of the CBAY-A and CBAY-C.