title: Professional development of ICT integration for secondary school teachers in Hong Kong: Towards a peer support enhanced model

authors: Lee, Theodore Tai Hoi

subjects: professional devleopment

abstract: Although information and communication technology (ICT) has gradually become a standard teaching technology in schools in many countries and regions like Hong Kong, the implementation of ICT in teaching and learning in schools still fails to meet high government and public expectations.  This study was an investigation into the potential of peer support to enhance professional development of ICT integration for secondary school teachers in Hong Kong.  

The study utilized peer support as a social approach to professional development and employed action research to examine the experiences of ten secondary school teachers who worked in five peer support groups for sixteen months.  A peer support model was introduced to the participants who then applied these principles in their own contexts.  Data on participants' reflections and evaluations of the peer support process was collected through individual interviews and peer-group conferences.  Each participant was interviewed at the beginning, middle and end of the research period and each peer group was interviewed at the end of the project.  By employing a grounded theory approach, themes related to the participants' experiences of peer support for ICT integration and the impact of peer support as a means of professional development were generated from the data. 
 
The study's findings indicate that the participants responded positively to peer support as a means of professional development.  Peer support was successful in: increasing professional interactions; broadening perspectives of ICT; increasing reflection; and providing personal and emotional support. 

From an analysis of the study's findings, in conjunction with a review of the appropriate literature, a teacher professional development model for ICT integration has been developed that may be helpful in furthering the goal of successful ICT integration.  This model focuses on the importance of intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic incentives and is based on a developmental process in which individual teachers determine their own practice through peer support enhanced critical reflection that continually expands their personal context of ICT integration.

text: Professional development of ICT integration for secondary school teachers in Hong Kong: Towards a peer support enhanced model Although information and communication technology (ICT) has gradually become a standard teaching technology in schools in many countries and regions like Hong Kong, the implementation of ICT in teaching and learning in schools still fails to meet high government and public expectations.  This study was an investigation into the potential of peer support to enhance professional development of ICT integration for secondary school teachers in Hong Kong.  

The study utilized peer support as a social approach to professional development and employed action research to examine the experiences of ten secondary school teachers who worked in five peer support groups for sixteen months.  A peer support model was introduced to the participants who then applied these principles in their own contexts.  Data on participants' reflections and evaluations of the peer support process was collected through individual interviews and peer-group conferences.  Each participant was interviewed at the beginning, middle and end of the research period and each peer group was interviewed at the end of the project.  By employing a grounded theory approach, themes related to the participants' experiences of peer support for ICT integration and the impact of peer support as a means of professional development were generated from the data. 
 
The study's findings indicate that the participants responded positively to peer support as a means of professional development.  Peer support was successful in: increasing professional interactions; broadening perspectives of ICT; increasing reflection; and providing personal and emotional support. 

From an analysis of the study's findings, in conjunction with a review of the appropriate literature, a teacher professional development model for ICT integration has been developed that may be helpful in furthering the goal of successful ICT integration.  This model focuses on the importance of intrinsic motivation rather than extrinsic incentives and is based on a developmental process in which individual teachers determine their own practice through peer support enhanced critical reflection that continually expands their personal context of ICT integration.

year: 2007

title: A theory of change driven approach to evaluating a multi-agency stalking intervention programme

authors: Belur, Jyoti

abstract: Multi agency initiatives as a response to complex crimes and social problems pose several challenges for practitioners and evaluators, in conceptual and operational terms. Challenges for practitioners include working out input requirements to achieve specified interim and final outcomes, and for evaluators it implies measuring not only if interventions work, but how they work, for whom, and under what circumstances. In an attempt to address these challenges, here we present findings from our unique attempt to combine a theory of change driven approach with the realist-inspired EMMIE evaluation framework, of a pilot multi agency stalking intervention partnership in one police force area in England and Wales. The paper makes a significant methodological and empirical contribution to evaluation literature

text: A theory of change driven approach to evaluating a multi-agency stalking intervention programme Multi agency initiatives as a response to complex crimes and social problems pose several challenges for practitioners and evaluators, in conceptual and operational terms. Challenges for practitioners include working out input requirements to achieve specified interim and final outcomes, and for evaluators it implies measuring not only if interventions work, but how they work, for whom, and under what circumstances. In an attempt to address these challenges, here we present findings from our unique attempt to combine a theory of change driven approach with the realist-inspired EMMIE evaluation framework, of a pilot multi agency stalking intervention partnership in one police force area in England and Wales. The paper makes a significant methodological and empirical contribution to evaluation literature

year: 2023-06-30

title: Murau a te tini (Mourned by the multitudes) & Pounamu (Greenstone)

authors: Rewi, Poia

subjects: Māori poetry

abstract: A song and a poem by Poia Rewi.

text: Murau a te tini (Mourned by the multitudes) & Pounamu (Greenstone) A song and a poem by Poia Rewi.

year: 2000-10