This book deals with the nature of professional education and the need to produce professionals who are capable of reflection upon practice. It derives comprehensive guidelines for developing curricula and teaching methods that encourage reflective thinking. It is heavily research-based and the multiprofessional approach is unique to this subject matter. It will appeal to educators in all health science disciplines. The book includes an introduction to the concepts of reflection and reflective thinking and describes action research methodology used to carry out this study. Findings are presented in the form of case studies and the conclusions drawn are considered in the context of practical implementation.
This edited volume addresses the different methods professionals use to promote a critical reflective and reflexive stance among practitioners, leading to both a reconceptualization of practice and its subsequent change. The goal of increased reflection in professional education is intended to expand approaches for professionals to work with diverse others. It is also intended to increase their levels of cognitive differentiation and depth of professional consciousness about themselves alongside diverse others in a rapidly changing world. This is an important issue in a range of applied professional programs, from education to medicine, social work to psychology, business to criminal justice, in nearly every country in the world.
This stimulating and challenging book provides a guide to reflexivity and reflexive practice, explaining its relevance to research in management, organisation studies and the social sciences. Rooted in the latest research, case studies and the authorÕs personal experience, the book builds a new perspective on reflexive practice involving bodily, emotional, rational and relational insights.
Reflexivity and Critical Pedagogy highlights the essential nature of reflexivity in creating sites for transformative possibilities in education. The book argues that seemingly intractable epistemological inequalities are embedded within educational structures and processes and also contends that perspectives which define knowledge as a unitary truth are essentially inadequate to address current global problems. Further, it argues that people and ideas traditionally positioned outside the academy are vital to developing more effective educational interventions. This volume stresses the influence of dominant societal discourses in creating and sustaining particular and limited definitions of knowledge. It also explores their power in delineating acceptable processes of knowledge dissemination. These discourses, whether consciously or otherwise, indwell teachers, learners and policy-makers as well as educational structures and organisations. It proposes reflexivity as the key component needed to combat such forces and one that is an essential ingredient in critical pedagogy.
Practitioners are experts in their field and this book introduces research methods that help to make that expertise explicit. There is worldwide recognition of the importance of high quality, reflective practice that both engages with existing research evidence and engages in the production of new evidence. Research Methods for Understanding Professional Learning demonstrates how the knowledge about what happens in a practice context and the skills used to succeed there can be used as the building blocks for developing research methods and tools to best investigate practice. The experienced author team introduce a framework for understanding practice and for designing research about practice using a wealth of real research examples across all phases of education. This practical guide provides suggestions of a unique mix of research methods and tools, moving beyond just action research methodology, allowing the reader to engage with research design and assess how well the data gathered will answer their research question.
Doing Practitioner Research focuses on helping practitioners conduct research in their own organisations, and attention is given to the best methods for doing this effectively and sensitively. The authors also attend to the theoretical, political and organisational context of doing research, as well as addressing the ethical and practical issues of undertaking research. The authors cover in detail the range of skills and techniques necessary to make a successful start to the process of becoming an effective practitioner researcher. This is an ideal text for growing number of practitioners working in health, education and social care who are undertaking research. Fox et al have provided the perfect introduction to why practitioners are in the unique position to conduct research that actually improves professional practice. This book will be essential reading for those professionals/practitioners engaged in research in their own organisation or undertaking a post-graduate qualification in Health, Social Care, or Education.
Social work is a human profession founded on social justice. It is difficult however to negotiate this in the constantly-changing context of the twenty first century. Now in its' second edition, this book considers the critical tradition of social work and updates it with postmodern thinking. Jan Fook draws on critical reflection to help social workers deliver flexible, responsible and responsive practice and to celebrate the ageless ideals of the profession. Key ideas covered in the text include: - Postmodernism - Critical theories - Critical reflection - Contextuality The author draws on her own experiences, to relate theoretical ideas to real life. Summaries, exercises and further reading are also included in each chapter. The book will be essential reading for all undergraduate students of social work. It will also be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and qualified professionals, who want to revisit the critical tradition of social work.
Increasingly youth practitioners need to be able to develop, review and evidence their work using a variety of research and assessment tools. This text equips students and practitioners with a thorough understanding of research design, practice and dissemination, as well as approaches to evidence-based practice.
Lecturers, why waste time waiting for the post to arrive? Request your e-inspection copy today! In the new third edition of this popular and highly readable book, the author draws on her considerable experience and extensive research to demonstrate a creative dynamic mode of reflection and reflexivity. Using expressive and explorative writing combined with in-depth group work/mentoring alongside appropriate focussed research, it enables critical yet sensitive examinations of practice. Gillie offers a searching and thorough approach which increases student and professional motivation, satisfaction, and deep levels of learning. She clearly explains reflection; reflexivity; narrative; metaphor, and complexity, and grounds the literary and artistic methods in educational theory and values. Clear step-by-step practical methods are given for every aspect of the process. New to this edition are: A chapter presenting different ways of undertaking and facilitating reflective practice Further international coverage, including material from Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The Third Edition also includes: An annotated glossary explaining key terms End-of-chapter activities and exercises Suggested further reading, and clear guides on chapter contents and how to use the book. Companion website www.uk.sagepub.com/bolton An accompanying companion website includes a range of free additional materials for lecturers and students to use in tutorials and for independent study, including discussion, workshop exercises, glossary and online readings. The methods are appropriate to, and used worldwide by, students and professionals across education; medicine and healthcare; clinical psychology; therapy; social work; pastoral care; counselling; police; business management; organisational consultancy; leadership training.
The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory provides an interdisciplinary and international introduction to social work theory. It presents an analytical review of the wide array of theoretical ideas that influence social work on a global scale. It sets the agenda for future trends within social work theory. Separated into four parts, this handbook examines important themes within the discourses on social work theory, as well as offering a critical evaluation of how theoretical ideas influence social work as a profession and in practice. It includes a diverse range of interdisciplinary topics, covering the aims and nature of social work, social work values and ethics, social work practice theories and the use of theory in different fields of practice. The contributors show how and why theory is so important to social work and analyze the impact these concepts have made on social intervention. Bringing together an international team of leading academics within the social work field and newer contributors close to practice, this handbook is essential reading for all those studying social work, as well as practitioners, policymakers and those involved in the associated fields of health and social care.
