title: How is teacher evaluation policy enacted?-The workings of performativity and micro-politics in Japanese schools

authors: Katsuno, Masaaki

subjects: teacher evaluation

abstract: This thesis is concerned with the extent to which new teacher evaluation policies and practices in Japan are about controlling teachers or represent opportunities for authentic professional development. It seeks to examine how the new teacher evaluation policies are embedded within the wider policy formation, what perspectives teachers have on the new policies and what their experiences are, and how the new teacher evaluation policies are actually being enacted in schools. 
The thesis uses a range of methods to explore these concerns. For the purpose of macro analysis of the new teacher evaluation policies, it examines both primary and secondary documentation around policy development. For studying the impact of the policy in schools, it draws on data from a national survey and in-depth interviews with a sample of teachers and head teachers. In this way, it employs a mixed methods approach in which quantitative data is used to provide a general picture of how teachers experience and perceive the new teacher evaluation policies and practices and qualitative data is used to provide the depth of analysis required to look at the nature of performativity in schools. 
The concept of performativity has been central to the overall investigation. The study argues for a particular reading of performativity — a work through, as opposed to work upon, perspective. This analytical lens illustrates how the new teacher evaluation policies have played a role in producing or reinforcing the mutually policing relations that lead to destabilisation of teacher’s identities. 
This thesis concludes that the enactment of new teacher evaluation policies has had significant indirect impacts on teachers and teachers’ work by affecting modes of school management and teachers’ relationships. By illustrating the usefulness of the work through perspective of performativity, it has enabled theorizing of performativity to advance. It also illuminates both congruence and variance between teacher evaluation policies as enacted in Japan and other countries. Japan’s teacher evaluation is no less effective as a measure of political control than its counterparts in other countries, but it can work in a more subtle way: teacher evaluation affects, repositions, and reconstructs teachers’ work and identities through affected relationships as mentioned above. This implies that teachers as well as policymakers should develop a more broad, macro-political and critical perspective on teacher evaluation.

text: How is teacher evaluation policy enacted?-The workings of performativity and micro-politics in Japanese schools This thesis is concerned with the extent to which new teacher evaluation policies and practices in Japan are about controlling teachers or represent opportunities for authentic professional development. It seeks to examine how the new teacher evaluation policies are embedded within the wider policy formation, what perspectives teachers have on the new policies and what their experiences are, and how the new teacher evaluation policies are actually being enacted in schools. 
The thesis uses a range of methods to explore these concerns. For the purpose of macro analysis of the new teacher evaluation policies, it examines both primary and secondary documentation around policy development. For studying the impact of the policy in schools, it draws on data from a national survey and in-depth interviews with a sample of teachers and head teachers. In this way, it employs a mixed methods approach in which quantitative data is used to provide a general picture of how teachers experience and perceive the new teacher evaluation policies and practices and qualitative data is used to provide the depth of analysis required to look at the nature of performativity in schools. 
The concept of performativity has been central to the overall investigation. The study argues for a particular reading of performativity — a work through, as opposed to work upon, perspective. This analytical lens illustrates how the new teacher evaluation policies have played a role in producing or reinforcing the mutually policing relations that lead to destabilisation of teacher’s identities. 
This thesis concludes that the enactment of new teacher evaluation policies has had significant indirect impacts on teachers and teachers’ work by affecting modes of school management and teachers’ relationships. By illustrating the usefulness of the work through perspective of performativity, it has enabled theorizing of performativity to advance. It also illuminates both congruence and variance between teacher evaluation policies as enacted in Japan and other countries. Japan’s teacher evaluation is no less effective as a measure of political control than its counterparts in other countries, but it can work in a more subtle way: teacher evaluation affects, repositions, and reconstructs teachers’ work and identities through affected relationships as mentioned above. This implies that teachers as well as policymakers should develop a more broad, macro-political and critical perspective on teacher evaluation.

year: 2013

title: Use of genetic methods for determining patterns and processes during marine biological invasions

authors: Smith, Kirsty Fiona

subjects: Didemnum vexillum

abstract: Invasive species are widely recognised as one of the major threats to marine biodiversity worldwide. With increasingly faster and more frequent transoceanic shipping, propagule pressure in the marine environment is likely to further increase, leading to a need for effective strategies for the early detection, prevention and control of marine invasive species. However, such strategies are often difficult to implement as many marine species cannot be accurately categorised as either native or non-native. For these reasons molecular genetic methods have increasingly been utilised for the study of marine invasive species. The potential for molecular data to enhance traditional morphology-based information is recognised and there has been huge progress in the application of molecular genetic methods to the study of marine bioinvasions in the last two decades. This work aims to build on and extend current advances in the use of molecular techniques for understanding marine bioinvasions, and in particular invasive ascidians. Part One (Chapters Two and Three) contains chapters that focus on the detection and identification of marine invasive species with molecular methods. Part Two (Chapters Four, Five and Six) examines how molecular methods can aid in understanding marine invasions and the affect of genetic diversity on invasive populations.

The research in this thesis demonstrates the usefulness of molecular genetics for marine invasive species research. Chapter Two describes the development of a highly sensitive assay for rapid and accurate identification of an invasive clam from environmental samples and has the ability to enhance current marine pest surveillance methods. Chapter Three demonstrates the power of molecular methods for invasive species identification. To effectively monitor and / or control the ongoing anthropogenic spread of invasive marine species there is also a need for extensive molecular inventories of the extant marine invertebrate biodiversity.

An understanding of the genetic diversity of invasive species populations is also required and will increase understanding of the species biology and lead to more effective management strategies. Chapters Four and Five highlight the applications of molecular genetic methods for identifying the invasive species / variants present and elucidating particular populations that served as the source of an introduction. This information can contribute to effective national and international policies and management strategies.

Chapters Five and Six also show how molecular genetic data can aid in understanding why some species are invasive. The results from these two chapters add to growing evidence that, for colonial organisms, reductions in population level genetic diversity may alter colony interaction dynamics and enhance the invasive potential of newly colonising species.

In the future, invasive species research will increasingly utilise metagenomics / next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Such applications will provide the ability to not only detect specific invasive species but also the native species present in a sample to assess environmental health. Studies of invasive species are increasingly using functional markers to identify physiologically and ecologically important traits. Future gene expression experiments can utilise NGS technology to identify the genes involved in producing invasive phenotypes and species. Such studies may provide findings which could be of both evolutionary and importantly, practical interest for guiding invasive species management decisions. The application of molecular genetic methods to understanding the biology of invasive species is an extremely promising area of research and such knowledge should be utilised to guide and inform management decisions.

text: Use of genetic methods for determining patterns and processes during marine biological invasions Invasive species are widely recognised as one of the major threats to marine biodiversity worldwide. With increasingly faster and more frequent transoceanic shipping, propagule pressure in the marine environment is likely to further increase, leading to a need for effective strategies for the early detection, prevention and control of marine invasive species. However, such strategies are often difficult to implement as many marine species cannot be accurately categorised as either native or non-native. For these reasons molecular genetic methods have increasingly been utilised for the study of marine invasive species. The potential for molecular data to enhance traditional morphology-based information is recognised and there has been huge progress in the application of molecular genetic methods to the study of marine bioinvasions in the last two decades. This work aims to build on and extend current advances in the use of molecular techniques for understanding marine bioinvasions, and in particular invasive ascidians. Part One (Chapters Two and Three) contains chapters that focus on the detection and identification of marine invasive species with molecular methods. Part Two (Chapters Four, Five and Six) examines how molecular methods can aid in understanding marine invasions and the affect of genetic diversity on invasive populations.

The research in this thesis demonstrates the usefulness of molecular genetics for marine invasive species research. Chapter Two describes the development of a highly sensitive assay for rapid and accurate identification of an invasive clam from environmental samples and has the ability to enhance current marine pest surveillance methods. Chapter Three demonstrates the power of molecular methods for invasive species identification. To effectively monitor and / or control the ongoing anthropogenic spread of invasive marine species there is also a need for extensive molecular inventories of the extant marine invertebrate biodiversity.

An understanding of the genetic diversity of invasive species populations is also required and will increase understanding of the species biology and lead to more effective management strategies. Chapters Four and Five highlight the applications of molecular genetic methods for identifying the invasive species / variants present and elucidating particular populations that served as the source of an introduction. This information can contribute to effective national and international policies and management strategies.

Chapters Five and Six also show how molecular genetic data can aid in understanding why some species are invasive. The results from these two chapters add to growing evidence that, for colonial organisms, reductions in population level genetic diversity may alter colony interaction dynamics and enhance the invasive potential of newly colonising species.

In the future, invasive species research will increasingly utilise metagenomics / next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Such applications will provide the ability to not only detect specific invasive species but also the native species present in a sample to assess environmental health. Studies of invasive species are increasingly using functional markers to identify physiologically and ecologically important traits. Future gene expression experiments can utilise NGS technology to identify the genes involved in producing invasive phenotypes and species. Such studies may provide findings which could be of both evolutionary and importantly, practical interest for guiding invasive species management decisions. The application of molecular genetic methods to understanding the biology of invasive species is an extremely promising area of research and such knowledge should be utilised to guide and inform management decisions.

year: 2012

title: Waikato shallow lakes modelling

authors: Lehmann, Moritz K.

subjects: Lakes

abstract: The principal aim of this study is to apply a modelling approach to identify, evaluate and prioritise specific in-lake and catchment restoration options which could be applied to improve the water quality and ecological health of peat and riverine lake types across the Waikato Region. Four representative lakes have been selected as case studies for this work based on their social, cultural and ecological significance, as well as the availability of historical monitoring data and the potential transferability of the study findings to similar lake systems. The lakes include Rotomānuka, Ngāroto, Waahi and Waikare.

text: Waikato shallow lakes modelling The principal aim of this study is to apply a modelling approach to identify, evaluate and prioritise specific in-lake and catchment restoration options which could be applied to improve the water quality and ecological health of peat and riverine lake types across the Waikato Region. Four representative lakes have been selected as case studies for this work based on their social, cultural and ecological significance, as well as the availability of historical monitoring data and the potential transferability of the study findings to similar lake systems. The lakes include Rotomānuka, Ngāroto, Waahi and Waikare.

year: 2017