Pilot mentorship project promotes equity and diversity in STEM

Minority groups are chronically underrepresented in both faculty and post-graduate roles in academia. Part of this problem begins with the known socioeconomic and cultural barriers to finding and obtaining research experiences on campus. Our mentorship program targets early steps in student career development to mitigate systemic and invisible barriers that lead to lowered diversity in later stages of academia. By providing opportunities targeted towards and allocated for equity-seeking groups, the program works towards increasing inclusion in academic spaces. Here we present a two-pronged mentorship and research micro-experience program which uniquely supports undergraduate students in obtaining and succeeding in research positions. The mentorship component of the program focuses on student’s professional development and cultivating community. Mentees and mentors meet once a week to learn about different career paths and opportunities in science. Mentors use crafted tools to help students develop their skills and knowledge that will help them navigate academic and professional spaces. In addition, the micro-experience component provides a 40-hour paid internship for students, helping them to take the critical first step in gaining research experience. Student and mentor feedback from the program demonstrates the community building and sense of belonging this program has fostered for underrepresented populations in academic spaces

Expanding knowledge and practice of construction management systems and procedures.

This submission is a highly focused collection of research-based and scholarly publications in the specialist field of Construction Management. Emphasis is placed on management systems and procedures involved in the procurement and production phases of the total building process. A coherent, original, independent and significant contribution to the advancement and application of knowledge has been made through applied research and dissemination of findings to academic peers, construction industry professionals and students in higher education. This has been achieved through: academic, professional and research-based textbooks; research monographs; refereed papers in learned journals; refereed papers to premier national and international conferences; and papers to foremost construction industry professional institutions.Textbooks have been published by Macmillan, Thomas-Telford in collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Longman and Palgrave with three commissioned by and contributing to the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) 'Education Framework' for construction industry. Peer-reviewed papers have been published by eminent journals based within the UK, North America, Australia, Hong Kong and China whilst refereed conference papers have been published both in the UK and internationally at leading research symposia. Among the refereed journal and conference papers presented, a number have merited prestigious awards reflecting "the outstanding contribution to research knowledge and communication within the construction industry" (ciob, 1988) and in recognition of "making a practical and lasting contribution towards the improvement of standards in building practice and education in building"(CIOB, 2004).This submission reflects a distinguished level of dissemination of applied research and scholarship over a twenty year period. The body of work presented has established a highly significant and authoritative contribution to the better understanding of construction management systems andprocedures. Furthermore, it has influenced, where applicable, thinking and practice within the subject field within research groups, higher education, the professions and the construction industry

Development of professional identity – Singapore counsellors in tertiary educational institutions

Though Counselling as a field has been in existence in Singapore for the last 30 years, many individuals (both public and members of other professions) still do not have a clear idea of the roles played by counsellors. Even though attempts have been made towards becoming a fully professionalised practice, counsellors’ professional identity is still fairly weak. The purpose of this study was to identify elements of practice which influence the development of professional identity amongst counsellors working in tertiary educational institutions in Singapore. The findings from this study seek to fill a gap in the limited literature on professional development of counsellors in Singapore as well as to potentially be used as the foundation for the construction of a competency framework for future professional development of counsellors. Adopting a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006), this research sought to identify factors which assisted or hindered the development of professional identity amongst counsellors in Singapore’s tertiary educational institutions. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with 20 counsellors from across the various tertiary educational institutions in Singapore. Four categories were identified to be significant influencers for the development of professional identity: ‘Adapting to expectations’ and ‘Building knowledge and skills’ within the personal dimension of self and ‘Building support networks’ and ‘Navigating practice within the socio-politico environment’ within the interpersonal dimension of self. The results indicated that professional identity development happens in a process when counsellors become intentionally engaged with stakeholders whilst ensuring good service to students and being responsive to management requests. Additionally, counsellors who continually build their knowledge and practice increase their credibility amongst stakeholders as well. It appears that the process of building a professional identity requires a willingness of the counsellor to negotiate the personal and interpersonal dimensions of their professional self, whilst being engaged in the various job demands

Capacity building for school improvement: a case study of a New Zealand primary school

Capacity building is now mentioned synonymously with school improvement in much of the literature with an absence of debate on the implications of political, social and economic trends. The paper explores capacity building in one low decile, multicultural, New Zealand primary school. From an interpretivist paradigm, a case study and grounded theory approach are used to explore four aspects: 1. the processes that enhance improvement; 2. the internal and external influences on capacity building; 3. the wider societal factors that influence the development of capacity; and 4. the links between capacity building and improvement that were evident. The paper will suggest that capacity building for school improvement is time and context dependent and is unique to the setting. It occurs in response to individual, collective and systemic needs in ways that sustain equilibrium while moving towards improvement. The paper will further explore key attributes: vision, stakeholders as change agents, school culture and professional development. Practices that are examined include knowledge production and utilisation, division of roles and responsibilities and a switching-on mentality. Both groups of factors will be examined as four important themes in the capacity building and school improvement process: situated activity; connectedness; leadership, governance and management; and outcomes. The paper will conclude that the confluence of these contributing factors enables tensions and needs to be managed while ensuring the equilibrium of people, school and system necessary for moving in the direction of improvement

Climate change, collaboration and pre-service teachers' emergent professional identity

The study group included 74 graduate, pre-service science teachers who were following the Professional Graduate Diploma of Education Secondary (PGDES) in all science subjects, biology with science, chemistry with science and physics with science. The strong tradition of integrated science in Scotland is reflected (Inspectorate of Schools (Scotland) 1994) in the structure of PGDES programmes (The Scottish Office Education and Industry Department 1998). Scottish School science departments are organised in a variety of ways and a strong collaborative element is often present in providing a common programme of study in science during the early years of secondary schooling. Collaborative coursework on climate change was selected due to its contemporary interest; consultation on the detail of a 'Curriculum for Excellence' (The Curriculum Review Group 2004) and the absence of reported depth of experience in this content area in Scottish school science. Issues associated with climate change conform to all ten qualities of socio-scientific issues (Ratcliffe M. and Grace M. 2003. ) p. 2-3. The purpose was to simulate the collaborative working environment (Watters J.J. and Ginns I.S. 2000); to establish a 'community of practice' as suggested by the (Lave J. and Wenger E. 1991)model of situated learning; involved aspects of problem based learning (Savin-Baden M. and Howell C.M. 2004) as well as authentic assessment (Wiggins G.P. 1993); and to initiate the formation of identities as science teachers rather than 'subject specialists'. The task was based on a constructivist framework. We sought to explore aspects relating to attitudes and knowledge in the context of climate change, to collaboration and the use of ICT. Students were allocated to mixed subject groups and expected to produce reading materials for 12-14 year olds and an associated teachers' guide on a given aspect of climate change over a seven week period. The product and collaborative aspects of the task were assessed using a combination of tutor and peer assessment, including two group debriefing sessions. Students' knowledge and confidence about global warming and information relating to their experiences of collaboration were assessed using a simple pre- and post-task questionnaire developed for this task. We found that the students experienced a number of benefits and frustrations of group work task. Overall, they found the process beneficial and collectively produced a high quality resource which is available as a basis for their own teaching. The resource could be adapted for use by other teachers. The students have become more knowledgeable about aspects of climate change. They may also have considered the challenges in teaching complicated socio-scientific issues in relation to their own professional attitudes and values. A generally positive attitudinal movement took place during the period and some variation was observed between students from different subject areas

The importance of collegiality and reciprocal learning in the professional development of beginning teachers

This paper discusses factors which enhance induction experiences for beginning teachers. It reports the findings from case studies which explore the impact of new entrants to the teaching profession in Scotland. The data suggest that the most supportive induction processes mix both formal and informal elements, but that the informal elements such as collegiality, good communication and a welcoming workplace environment should not be underestimated. The study also highlights the potential benefits of a more collegiate environment for teachers across the career phases. Experienced teachers and new entrants had a range of experience to offer each other, thus creating more cohesive professional working which was supportive of early career teachers while encouraging reflection on practice among the more experienced professionals

Building capacity: teachers thinking and working together to create new futures.

This paper is based on research illuminating organisation-wide processes used during a whole school revitalisation process, IDEAS (Innovative Designs for Enhancing Achievement in Schools). It explores the organisation-wide processes that engage teachers in futuristic thinking and the creation of shared meaning. The paper explores how teachers engaging in processes of school revitalisation think and work together to add significant value to their successful practices. The school revitalisation process at the heart of this research centres on the work of teachers and recognises the fundamental importance of teacher leadership in successful school change. Creative organisation-wide processes link personal pedagogical work with the work of the broader professional community of the school. This linking of personal and school wide pedagogical aspirations and understandings provides a foundation for culture building and the creation of new futures. It enables the professional community to build the capacity of the school to add value to classroom and school wide practices - improving teaching and learning as a result

Imparting work based skills on vocational courses, pedagogy of using industrial simulation in surveying education: a study of a model run at Sheffield Hallam University in 2011

The paper relates to delivering vocational higher education to prospective building surveyors. Preparing students for the workplace requires inclusion of academic knowledge, workplace skills and practical vocational experience. This is reinforced by feedback from the four stakeholders to surveying education, learner, employer, education provider and professional institution. Successful delivery of learning to distinct vocational groups requires specific pedagogy. The paper analyses a realistic industrial simulation delivered to teach knowledge and skills to undergraduate building surveying students. Initial pedagogy was proposed by CEEBL, Centre for Excellence in Enquiry Based Learning. Work based skills requirements were taken from published work including leading building surveying academics and practitioners like Professor Mike Hoxley and Professor Malcolm Hollis. Data analysis is used to evolve future simulations. These become better suited to delivering appropriate learning, valid assessment and usable vocational skills, against academic, student focused and industrial criteria. An action research approach is utilised by the author to develop specialist pedagogy through analysis of outcome data and stakeholder feedback. Action research is undertaken through an approach using trial, evaluation and development. The paper concludes, simulation can be a valid tool for delivering teaching, learning, assessment and vocational skills training to surveying students and justifies further research

Building research capacity in Education: evidence from recent initiatives in England, Scotland and Wales.

There is a pressing need to build research capacity in Education across the UK to combat the effects of the ageing research population and the increasing polarisation between research-intensive institutions and the remainder of the field. This paper draws data from three evaluations of recent initiatives across the UK to explore the necessary conditions for effectively building research capacity. Technicist and situated learning models are explored in relation to the immediate and longer term professional development of the research workforce, and we identify that central to the effectiveness of this professional learning is: (1) interpersonal support from more experienced colleagues; and (2) institutional support for research engagement, primarily in the provision of time and an infrastructure which can support research activity. We conclude that the development of, and engagement with, inter-institutional, inter-project communities is imperative to this process