Investigating Applicants' Perceptions of the Recruitment and Selection Process of Headteachers in English Secondary Schools: Looking at Headship Through a Leadership Identity Lens

Recruiting headteachers in the UK continues to be a challenge. The route to headship is often considered a mysterious and arbitrary process. It is challenging for a first time applicant to find ways to convey their leadership potential, through a selection process that has barely changed for over 20 years. This study reviews this process by drawing upon international research on principal appointments (Walker and Kwan, 2012, Blackmore et al., 2006, Browne-Ferrigno, 2003) and compares this with research on different perceptions of headship. This review is considered in light of leadership identity theory (Ibarra, 2003, Lord and Hall, 2005) and asks how this process looks from the perspective of the headship applicant. In what sense does an applicant have an understanding of their own leadership identity and are they confident that this can be communicated when applying for the headteacher role? This research examines the dual aspect of the recruitment and selection of headteachers. I have constructed a conceptual framework to map the pathway that the applicant takes and set this against the recruitment process to follow the applicant’s journey through these stages. The research brings together three different investigations; an online questionnaire of headship applicants, a textual analysis of headship recruitment packs, and follow-up semi-structured interviews with applicants, to form a multiple case design. Bringing these parts together, I examine how effective this process is, particularly against an interpretivist perspective of headship. Main findings suggest that certain models of leadership are communicated more effectively to applicants through the recruitment process than others, that the level of support for aspiring headteachers is hit and miss, depending upon their school context, and that the recruitment process would benefit from an integration with the language of leadership identity. Recommendations are made for revisions to initial teacher training as well as headship preparation training. The research will contribute to the field of educational leadership in what will be practical ways, for example, helping future applicants with preparation for senior leadership

The Disappearing Identity of the Teacher Educator?

The education of new teachers in the UK is in the midst of a massive upheaval. Since the DfE Market Review in 2021, teacher educators have had to evaluate their intended provision and, in line with guidelines (DfE, 2021), have had to submit their plans for reaccreditation. This process has been the cause of huge disruption amongst school-based and university-based providers. This paper will argue that the role of the university-based teacher educator, as understood in the UK, is endangered and could disappear. This will be done by examining these five ideas. Firstly, by reviewing the evolution of teacher educators and their professional identity (Davey, 2013). Secondly, by considering the contrasting perceptions of teacher education in different countries compared to the UK (Gunn, et.al, 2016, Høydalsvik, 2019). For example, the professional development of teacher educators appears to have a higher priority in some countries. I will look at how these differences reflect the radical re-evaluations of the teacher role itself and will take into account that the UK route to teacher educator roles is predominantly via the practitioner route (Murray & Male, 2005). Thirdly, I will suggest that the on-going divide between educational research and practice in the UK is a contributing factor to the disappearing role of the university-based teacher educator. Fourthly, I will briefly consider whether the perceptions of the role are being challenged by the focus on teacher training rather than education and the apparent lack of interest in an academic route for teacher education. Finally, I will argue that the teacher educators’ role can be recovered through ensuring their work is values-based and by a re-evaluation of their professional leadership identity, both external and internal (Ibarra, 2016). Rather than disappearing, the teacher educator needs to straddle the divide, through their leadership example

A Unified Tool For Adaptive Collocation Techniques Applied to Solving Optimal Control Problems

In this work, a user-friendly MATLAB tool is introduced to solve nonlinear optimal control problems by applying collocation techniques using Coupled Radial Basis Functions (CRBFs). CRBFs are a new class of Radial Basis Functions combined with a conical spline r^5, which provides the advantage of insensitivity to the shape parameter while maintaining accuracy and robustness. To solve optimal control problems, software tools are often employed to implement numerical methods and apply advanced techniques to solving differential equations. Although several commercial software tools exist for solving optimal control problems, such as ICLOCS2, GPOPS, and DIDO, there are no options available that utilize adaptive collocation with CRBFs. A unified MATLAB tool named Radial Optimal Control Software (ROCS) is introduced and not only implements the CRBF method, but also enables any user, from professionals to students, to solve nonlinear optimal control problems through a user-friendly interface. The tool accepts user input for boundary conditions, necessary conditions, and the governing equations of motion. The two-point boundary value problem (TPBVP) is approximated through collocation using CRBFs, and the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations (NAEs) are solved with a MATLAB solver. The tool\u27s usefulness and application are demonstrated by solving classical nonlinear optimal control problems and comparing the results with the solutions found in the literature. Compared to classical numerical method techniques, the present tool is shown to solve optimal control problems more efficiently for the same level of accuracy. By introducing this unified MATLAB tool to solving nonlinear optimal control problems, the intent is to enable professionals and students to solve nonlinear optimal control problems, e.g., in astrodynamics and space-flight mechanics, without the need for extensive manipulation of code in existing software tools and without extensive knowledge of applying numerical solvers

Bullying of the LGBTQ Community

Our group did a literature review and identified that bullying of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning populations occurs worldwide and is becoming a more prominent global issue. Our group researched and identified bullying in the United States of America, South Africa, Uganda, and Russia. We address these specific countries because of the attention that they have recently received in the media in regards to treatment of people who identify as LGBTQ. We examined this topic and, explored the bio-psycho-social effects of LGBTQ bullying and provided different ways that people can address the problem of bullying of the LGBTQ community through venues such as education and advocating for policy change in the previously stated countries. We also provide information regarding different organizations in the secular and Christian community that are addressing bullying of the LGBTQ

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapists and Nurses in an Acute Care Setting: An Exploratory Study

Background. Collaboration between occupational therapists and nurses is key to a positive prognosis for their patients. Currently, there is a gap in the research on professional relationships between occupational therapists and registered nurses in acute care settings. Purpose. To examine interprofessional collaboration between registered nurses and occupational therapy in an acute care setting. Methods. A phenomenological, qualitative design with use of semi-structured interviews was used. Interviewees were four occupational therapists and four registered nurses who currently work in acute care settings in Northern California and were recruited through a snowball, convenience and purposive sampling. Themes and subthemes that emerged from the data answered the research questions. Findings. The key factors preventing collaboration were: Time constraints, role confusion and overlap, personality factors, and lack of occupational therapy advocacy. Implications. This study may guide the development of interprofessional education to improve the collaborative relationship between occupational therapists and nurses to ultimately improve quality of care

Grassroots Market Research on Grass: Predicting Cannabis Brand Performance Using Social Media Scraping

[EN] Social media listening has become a useful tool to marketers in studying behavior for a wide variety of consumer applications, from political leanings and drug abuse to common product choices. Although most cannabis products are illegal at the U.S. Federal level, it is legal in 30 states for medical use and 8 states and the District of Columbia for recreational use. Despite the legal issues, cannabis is projected to reach over $31 billion in sales world-wide by 2021. The industry is both rapidly evolving and highly fragmented, making it challenging for companies operating in the space to access the insights and the data to help design communications, product development and branding strategies. The research presented here will show that the application of social media listening can be helpful for cannabis brand marketers to gauge size, scope and nuances of these markets and tailored social media mining can accurately predict a brand’s future performance. Later research will show that social media scraping will help identify and segment consumers at a fraction the cost of traditional consumer research methods.Kregor, J.; Gomez, B.; Kelly, JS.; Stevenson, K. (2018). Grassroots Market Research on Grass: Predicting Cannabis Brand Performance Using Social Media Scraping. En 2nd International Conference on Advanced Reserach Methods and Analytics (CARMA 2018). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 201-208. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2018.2018.8348OCS20120

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapists and Registered Nurses in Acute Care Settings: An Exploratory Study

Background. Collaboration between occupational therapists and nurses is key to a positive prognosis for their patients. Currently, there is a gap in the research on professional relationships between occupational therapists and registered nurses in acute care settings. Purpose. To examine interprofessional collaboration between registered nurses and occupational therapy in an acute care setting. Methods. A phenomenological, qualitative design with use of semi-structured interviews was used. Interviewees were four occupational therapists and four registered nurses who currently work in acute care settings in Northern California and were recruited through a snowball, convenience and purposive sampling. Themes and subthemes that emerged from the data answered the research questions. Findings. The key factors preventing collaboration were: Time constraints, role confusion and overlap, personality factors, and lack of occupational therapy advocacy. Implications. This study may guide the development of interprofessional education to improve the collaborative relationship between occupational therapists and nurses to ultimately improve quality of care

Interprofessional Collaboration Between Occupational Therapists and Registered Nurses in Acute Care Settings: An Exploratory Study

Background. Collaboration between occupational therapists and nurses is key to a positive prognosis for their patients. Currently, there is a gap in the research on professional relationships between occupational therapists and registered nurses in acute care settings. Purpose. To examine interprofessional collaboration between registered nurses and occupational therapy in an acute care setting. Methods. A phenomenological, qualitative design with use of semi-structured interviews was used. Interviewees were four occupational therapists and four registered nurses who currently work in acute care settings in Northern California and were recruited through a snowball, convenience and purposive sampling. Themes and subthemes that emerged from the data answered the research questions. Findings. The key factors preventing collaboration were: Time constraints, role confusion and overlap, personality factors, and lack of occupational therapy advocacy. Implications. This study may guide the development of interprofessional education to improve the collaborative relationship between occupational therapists and nurses to ultimately improve quality of care.https://scholar.dominican.edu/ug-student-posters/1005/thumbnail.jp