Curriculum to Help Teachers Support Student\u27s Development of Writing Strategies

The purpose of this study was to create a curriculum that can be used to support students as they develop writing strategies. Current literature and research on the writing process and writers\u27 workshop is explored. The project describes procedures, methods, and activities used to develop the curriculum. The project makes use of the Washington State Essential Leaming Requirements. The project explores use of the curriculum that was developed and how it can be adapted to meet individual needs

Intrapsychic dimensions of addiction: the wearing down of help seeking capacities by cruel and tyrannical objects

Research had two aims: firstly, to explore the clinical observation that dependent drug users are often apparently unwilling, or are unable to reflect in any depth on experience, including thinking about mental states in self and other. Secondly, to consider the intrapsychic elements that exist alongside, and which may motivate drug addiction (including heavy and dependent alcohol use). 34 drug users were interviewed using the Adult Attachment Interview, and interviews coded for Reflective Function (RF), an objective measure of the capacity to mentalize. Low RF was identified across the sample. Data from Adult Attachment Interviews also revealed that a climate of violence and/or cruelty, deprivation and a lack of basic care nearly always precede chronic drug or alcohol addiction. I suggest that as a result of this the individuals interviewed had minimised thinking about their own & others’ states of mind. Ten of the sample were then interviewed twice more using a research interview based on the clinical psychotherapeutic interview, which explored internal dynamics and object relational aspects of participants’ narratives. The data obtained revealed the presence of two kinds of internal object relating in a very specific way. A cruel, bullying, depriving object was found to dominate, and to severely restrict access to, a much weaker, though potentially helpful internal object. There was an over-reliance on the dominant bad object which was felt at one time to have saved the addict from unbearable psychic pain, but had then demanded he turn forever away from human help, denying the need for this or indeed any vulnerability or ‘weakness’. Whilst intoxication was initially found both to help the addict sustain this position, and to obliterate psychic pain, ongoing addiction actually cemented the dynamic described, and further inhibited access to helpful, human objects

Intrapsychic dimensions of addiction: the wearing down of help seeking capacities by cruel and tyrannical objects

Research had two aims: firstly, to explore the clinical observation that dependent drug users are often apparently unwilling, or are unable to reflect in any depth on experience, including thinking about mental states in self and other. Secondly, to consider the intrapsychic elements that exist alongside, and which may motivate drug addiction (including heavy and dependent alcohol use). 34 drug users were interviewed using the Adult Attachment Interview, and interviews coded for Reflective Function (RF), an objective measure of the capacity to mentalize. Low RF was identified across the sample. Data from Adult Attachment Interviews also revealed that a climate of violence and/or cruelty, deprivation and a lack of basic care nearly always precede chronic drug or alcohol addiction. I suggest that as a result of this the individuals interviewed had minimised thinking about their own & others’ states of mind. Ten of the sample were then interviewed twice more using a research interview based on the clinical psychotherapeutic interview, which explored internal dynamics and object relational aspects of participants’ narratives. The data obtained revealed the presence of two kinds of internal object relating in a very specific way. A cruel, bullying, depriving object was found to dominate, and to severely restrict access to, a much weaker, though potentially helpful internal object. There was an over-reliance on the dominant bad object which was felt at one time to have saved the addict from unbearable psychic pain, but had then demanded he turn forever away from human help, denying the need for this or indeed any vulnerability or ‘weakness’. Whilst intoxication was initially found both to help the addict sustain this position, and to obliterate psychic pain, ongoing addiction actually cemented the dynamic described, and further inhibited access to helpful, human objects

Articulating and developing supervisory skills through collaborative action research

Postgraduate master’s dissertation supervision is one of the least understood aspects of academic practice. Using action research, twenty-five master’s supervisors aimed to develop a better understanding of the complexities and challenges involved in this role. Through focus groups, individual interviews and monthly workshops, they developed and piloted resources for new supervisors. The main complexities and challenges identified and articulated were: understanding the student; accepting the unpredictability of their progress; tailoring support; giving constructive feedback; developing their personal understanding of supervision. Following the project, those involved reported increased awareness and confidence in their supervisory role and changes in their academic practice

The effects of structural change: An investigation into the South African cricket development pathway

Sports organisations face immense challenge, both structurally and organisationally, in coordinating talent development processes. This complex interaction may be exacerbated by structural change and sports policy decision-making, not only changing the way pathway elements interact and individuals progress, but also the quality of the learning and development domain. The aim of this research was to investigate the development pathway of South African cricketers and the impact of change to the provincial structure in 2004. Twelve semi-structured interviews with highly experienced players, coaches and administrators raised a number of themes. Specifically, the changes reduced elite playing opportunities and narrowed pathway options. Club cricket standards dropped, reducing its viability as a pool for talent identification and effective development. This placed stress on age-related academies as a fundamental development environment and the need to select talent ‘into the system’ earlier, which has implications for late developers and the extent to which chance influences development. Practical consequences, in the long-term, not only reduce the participation base and narrow the performance pathway, but also impact on the overall health of SA domestic and international game. Findings also reinforce the theoretical models, acknowledging sports development as an individual and non-linear process and confirm cricket as a late developing sport, stressing the importance of those development environments between mass participation and elite performance (school/club/university) to retain structure, competition and exhibit the greatest flexibility and coherency. Implications for practice and research are discussed

Exploring the coach-administrator relationship within the SA cricket development environment

Research question: The increased competitive demands placed on modern sports organisations, intensifies pressures on coaches to produce positive results. These factors may increase relational tensions between managerial-sports leaders (administrators) and the leaders of sports teams (coaches). Few studies have explored the challenges facing coaches when leading upwards when attempting to achieve performance success. Utilising institutional logics and the concepts of trust and power, this study investigated the relationship between coaches and administrators by exploring the various interactions and negotiations involved when navigating this relationship. Research methods: The views of thirteen highly experienced cricket coaches, with multi-layered coaching experiences operating in the South African cricket development environment, were recruited for semi-structured interviews, raising several significant themes. Results and findings : A significant challenge to coaches were administrators exhibiting a lack of understanding of the environment required to develop cricketers, providing areas of conflict such as; perceived differences in priorities leading to non-collaborative, ill-judged and, at times biased decisions; differences in priorities affecting resource allocation to drive and sustain long-term development due short-term financial decision-making and result-driven agendas. Implications: Theoretically, this research explores how institutional logics, trust and power enhance our understanding of the coach-administrator relationship and have potential research implications for understanding similar dynamic relationships in other sport organisations. Practically, one implication for sports organisations is the role and importance of developing and applying more effective coach performance management system to alleviate potential problems in these relationships

An Integrative Review Exploring Psycho-Social Impacts and Therapeutic Interventions for Parent Caregivers of Young People Living with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

The purpose of this integrative review was to explore psycho-social impacts and therapeutic interventions for parent caregivers of young people living with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Electronic databases were searched for research publications between 2010 and 2020. This included Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, ERC, and AMED. Four central themes emerged: Living with DMD; Knowing and telling; Transitioning; and Building resilience. The impact on parents caring for a child with DMD affected all aspects of their lives, changed over time, and had identifiable peak stress points. Unmet parental information and support needs left parents struggling in their role. Transition required changes to parenting behaviors and required adaptation and resilience. It is proposed that future investment should focus on anticipating family need, targeting intervention cognizant of predictable stress points and building resilience through social community. Parents may then be better positioned to support their child in looking forward