Teaching! How Do You Cope with the Dilemmas?

On By Dr Peter McIlveenIn BlogsLeave a comment

Distress tolerance involves skills that can help us to cope with stress and psychological issues. It involves keeping going despite the discomfort of distress. These skills are valuable for people working in stressful jobs like teaching. Mature and experienced teachers could provide colleagues and the next generation of teachers with a potential “gold mine” of knowledge on how they tolerate distress associated with teaching dilemmas.

Teaching dilemmas aren’t serious or critical incidents but are common decision-making situations within teaching where there are conflicting or competing interests or needs involved. The teacher is required to do something in the dilemma situation, requiring some form of compromise to do what is believed to be “right”. Here are two examples.

  • “Should I spend more of my teaching time extending a very capable student or doing remediation with a less capable student?
  • “Should I finish the unit of work now as instructed by my supervisor or keep going as my students require more time?”

If you are over 45 years of age and have taught in schools for more than ten years, we would really like to hear from you. We wish to invite you to a confidential and relaxed interview, either through Zoom or at a COVID-safe location near you. We expect the interview to be for approximately 30 – 45 minutes and at a time that suits you. You may be asked to join a second interview of a lesser duration. We know your time is valuable and would like to give you a $30 gift voucher after talking to show our appreciation.

This unique research is part of a Doctor of Education degree program and is approved and supervised by the University of Southern Queensland. If you would like to share your experiences with our friendly interviewer, please click on the link below to indicate your interest.

https://surveys.usq.edu.au/index.php/759922?lang=en

If you have any questions, please contact the principal researcher, Lorette Hargreaves by email: D1110744@umail.usq.edu.au

We look forward to learning from you and your experiences of teaching dilemmas.

Older Canadians at Work

On By Dr Peter McIlveenIn BlogsLeave a comment

Are you living in Canada, 65 years of age or over and engaged in volunteerism, paid work, caregiving, or a combination of these activities?

Our understanding of career development throughout the lifespan is evolving. In Canada, as in other industrialized countries, people are staying connected to the workforce and are remaining active in their communities well beyond traditional retirement age. As the Canadian population ages, it is more important than ever that we understand the career needs of individuals aged 65 and over.

University of Southern Queensland Master of Education candidate Danielle McCann is seeking Canadian survey participants in a study of career adaptability among older workers.  This capstone project will contribute to ACCELL doctoral candidate Jennifer Luke’s international study of post-retirement age career development. Under the supervision of Professor Peter McIlveen, Danielle’s research aims to provide data that can inform services and counselling practices and interventions for older workers in the Canadian context.

The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete. If you are willing to participate or know someone who would be, here is the link to enter the survey:

Work, Retirement, and Mentorship Survey

This research project has ethical approval from the University of Southern Queensland (Human Research Ethics Approval Number – H17REA101) and all survey responses are anonymous.

Transferring the Knowledge

On By Dr Peter McIlveenIn BlogsLeave a comment

Do you know of anyone at 65 years of age or over, who is either retired,  performing (or interested in) volunteer work or paid work, or any of these combined?

ACCELL doctoral candidate Jennifer Luke is currently investigating the career support needs of those in retirement who re-engage in work (paid or volunteer) as well as those who never stopped working. What are the adaptabilities, generativity, and level of interest in mentoring of this cohort?

With a recent successful survey of post-retirement age participants within the UK, Jennifer is now seeking Australian and New Zealand survey participants who are 65 years of age or over.

The aim of this current research survey is to learn about participants’ beliefs regarding work, being recognised in society, and sharing their knowledge with others.

The survey takes, on average, approximately 10 minutes. If you are willing to contribute or know of someone who would be, here is the link:

https://surveys.usq.edu.au/index.php/828454?lang=en

Ageing is not about decline; it is about growth. Ageing creates opportunities and mature workers are not burdens. They are valuable contributors with experience and knowledge to give.

With the focus on mentorship by older workers as a solution for retaining skills within the workforce, the proposed outcome of this research project is to provide valuable information for future career interventions and guidance for this age cohort.

This research project has ethical approval from the University of Southern Queensland (Human Research Ethics Approval Number – H17REA101) and all survey responses are anonymous. For more information contact Jennifer.Luke@usq.edu.au

How are educators adapting to the challenges of COVID-19?

On By Dr Peter McIlveenIn Blogs1 Comment

COVID-19 has changed the way we work, live, and learn. Most educational institutions have moved to some type of alternative education provision.  Research is required to better understand how these unprecedented challenges and ways of working affect educators and their vital work.

The effects on educators are being investigated by Associate Professor Petrea Redmond and colleagues at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia.

Educators around the world are completing an online survey for this research. The survey includes educators working in a wide range of educational sectors: Early Childhood, K – 12, Higher Education, Vocational Education and workplace trainers.

The survey takes, on average, approximately 5 minutes. If you are willing to contribute, here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/y73yj5fe

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“We need evidence to understand educators’ experiences, and to inform educational policies and workplace practices”, says Associate Professor Petrea Redmond

A snowballing technique is being used to gather more participants, so feel free to pass on the link to colleagues or your professional networks.

This research project has ethical approval from the University of Southern Queensland (Human Research Ethics Approval Number – H20REA103).

Adapt2020. Back to work. A free online course. Register now.

On By Dr Peter McIlveenIn Blogs18 Comments

A free online employability course is available for workers who are newly unemployed or on pause from their careers.

It’s Adapt2020, developed by Carolyn Alchin and a team of qualified and experienced career development practitioners, entrepreneurs, educators, and business specialists.

Adapt2020 has 4 hours of expert Career Development online support built into the course. Adapt2020 runs over 4 weeks, with more online content added weekly.

Let’s help people Adapt2020 and get back to work!

Please share with your networks and get the word out there.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/careeradapt-2020-tickets-102549949660

Logo FINAL-01                           adapt2020 logo