An Investigation into the attitudes and perceived needs of the early learning and care profession in relation to continuous professional development
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Gillian Mannion, 'An Investigation into the attitudes and perceived needs of the early learning and care profession in relation to continuous professional development', [Thesis], 2019-06Download Item:
Abstract:
The First Five Report (Government of Ireland, 2018) has acknowledged that there is diversity of learner type and need in the Early Learning and Care Sector (formerly Early Childhood Care and Education) however, the exact nature of those needs have not been examined, creating a research gap. This research addressed the research gap by asking: What are the opinions and needs of the Early Learning and Care profession in relation to Continuous Professional Development?
Having given an overview of the sector though the lens of Pobal, the Department of Education and Skills, and in the context of new policies, changes and challenges, this research explored the concept of continuous professional development in a comparative study by taking two of the main pedagogies in the sector - Montessori and Play-based groups and comparing their attitudes and needs in relation to CPD using a new understanding of the term ‘professional’ as developed by Molla and Nolan, (2018) in Australia. Attitudes to learning and an investigation into learner type provided an additional perspective through which to view CPD to explore goodness of fit with present teaching methodologies. Themes were extracted in relation to learner type and preference, and a re-evaluation of the term ‘care’ proved a thought-provoking avenue. Professionalisation through the means of a graduate workforce was explored, with an evaluation of the skills deficits that at present, create difficult working conditions and environments for ELC professionals in the absence of appropriate and transformational CPD.
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Masters in Education Studies (Early Childhood Education)
Author: Mannion, Gillian
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