What are the expectations and perceptions of the role of a supply teaching assistant - Dissertation Example

?BA (Hons) Education 11 Practitioner Research Methods The completion of this proposal forms Task 3 of the unit Practitioner Research Methods 83BB0011, 22BA0011, 22BB0011 OUTLINE PROPOSAL FOR PRACTITIONER STUDY Enter information under the follow prompts. Name: 1) Please indicate a clear working title. 1 [maximum 30 words] A study to analyze the perceptions held for a supply teaching assistant role in a school setting 2) Please provide a clear statement of the topic, issue and/or questions you intend to investigate in the research. [200 words] In collaboration with the “Every Child Matters” agenda launched in United Kingdom; the emerging trend of utilizing multi agency approach in a school setting has led to the involvement of a range of specialized support staff, other than teachers, who work with children. Employed either by schools or “Local Educational Authorities”, teaching assistants or “TAs” offer a variety of services depending on their level of expertise for meeting educational, pastoral and social needs of children in a class room environment (Westcott, 2008).This research will help to envisage the altering nature of classroom support system in United Kingdom and how well teaching assistants are coping with these pedagogical arrangements. It will primarily discuss the makeshift in UK school systems regarding the increase in number of teaching assistants after the implementation of “work force reform” that was initiated to transform the primary and secondary learning patterns thus lessening work load of teachers (Estyn, 2007). With coming years issues concerned with role definition of teaching assistant resurfaced. Nature of work became more inclined to submerge the teacher and support staff boundaries. Sometimes TAs faces neglect in a school setting. It may happen that they succumb to the subordination of head teachers without honing their job related skills (Ebersold, 2003, p.103). This research will be focused on determining the underlying challenges faced by supply teachers as they try to substitute various responsibilities that were once considered the “sole remit of the teacher” (Fraser & Meadows, 2008, p.351). Research questions that will be sought in this study include: Whether the impact of improper guidance by senior teachers deviate the career direction of supply assistants? Other than support provisons, do teaching assistants play any significant role in curriculum development? What is the level of ambiguity or role confusion faced by teaching assistants in a school setting? Is the training offered to TAs sufficient for their professional development? What is the future potential of teaching assistants in UK schools? 3) Please give a short description of the methodological approach that you intent to take in this research, the research methods you will use and the data you wish to gather. [200 words] The research approach for this study will mostly be qualitative. For secondary data, relevant literature will be studied to gain insights about the perceptions of role disposition of supply teachers as held by parents, teachers and children. Contemporary research work as well as the work done by previous school practitioners will be considered for making generalized analysis of the chosen topic. For carrying out this study reviews of parents and children will be gathered to know the perception they hold with respect to the teaching assistant working in the school environment. Primary tools of data collection will comprise of questionnaire survey and interviews with parents and school faculty. Participant observation technique will be employed to judge the behavior of students in presence of a teaching assistant. As a research sample, three schools will be selected on random basis in the locality of Manchester offering both primary and secondary education. Target audience for the participant observation will be 30 students from age group 5-12 years. Their movements and gestures will be recorded while the class is being controlled by the supply learning assistant. The observation sheet will be prepared to note down the responses of supply assistants regarding discipline, learning and managerial activities, etc. Interview session will be conducted with parents of these children and their respective class teachers. Semi structured questionnaires will be self administered to school faculty whereas parents will be corresponded via mail. 4) How will you address the ethical issues involved in this research? 2 [200 words] In keeping with the BERA ethical guidelines, my research will be conducted with the “ethical respect” for the individuals involved in this study, knowledge to be assessed, and integrity of educational research. All active and passive respondents in this research i.e. the students, parents, teaching assistants and class teachers will be fairly treated regardless of their ethnic background or religious beliefs. Participants will be involved in the study after taking their “voluntary informed consent”. In case of student respondents, parents will be briefed about the purpose of this research so that they could decide giving permission for recording classroom observations. In every instance of research proceedings deception will be avoided by taking approval from the institution’s ethics committee. In case any participant decides to withdraw from study, instead of forcing, careful efforts will be made to reengage him. As this research involves children participation therefore I will comply by article 3 and 12 of the “United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Children”. They will be allowed to express their views and research setting would be so arranged that it is in children’s best interest. Data gathered from respondents will be kept confidential to ensure that their identity is not disclosed. In relation to “Data Protection Act” (1998) participants will be given the right to retrieve their personal information on demand. Ethical guidelines will be presented to the sponsors before commencement of this research to avoid any later complications in the research proceedings. 5) How will this research be professionally relevant and useful to you? [200 words] This research will help to define the professional potential of teaching assistants. They will get guidance in order to determine when to provide individual support e.g. when dealing with pupils having special needs and when to play their part as a “general resource” person. Good work place practices will be encouraged when parents, teachers and supply teachers will collaborate for the betterment of children, reviewing varied learning approaches and strategies implemented in schools (Balshaw, 1999). This research will classify various career pathways that teaching assistants could adopt as some feel more comfortable in strengthening relationships with children, informing parents of their educational and pastoral needs, some wish to excel in the managerial school tasks while others try to have close associations with head teachers to establish their worth within the classroom. Suggestions will be made to encourage supply teachers to get qualified in support teaching degrees like NVQs for level two, three as well as professional foundation degree. As a teaching assistant I see myself to be a special need assistant within coming five years, teaching the transition period from year six to year seven as I have a broad knowledge of different teaching styles from all year groups. By doing this research, I believe that I will be able to analyse the whole situation in an objective light and this will help in the remedy of prevalent issues related to supply teaching profession. 6) Please put the full bibliographic details of ten sources of literature which you have used in the preparation of this proposal; any sources cited in other sections of this document should be in this list.3 Balshaw,M.H., 1999. Help in the classroom. 2ndEdition. London: David Fulton British Educational Research Association, 2004. Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research. Nottingham: BERA. Ebersold,S., 2003. Inclusion and mainstream education: an equal cooperation system. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 18, pp. 89-107. Estyn, 2007. The impact of workforce remodeling on pupils’ learning and raising standards. Cardiff: Estyn. Fraser, C. & Meadows, S., 2008. Children’s views of teaching assistants in primary school, Education 3-13, 36 (4), pp. 351-363. Westcott, E., 2008. Talking to teachers about Every Child Matters, in: Baginsky, M. Ed., Safeguarding children and schools. London, Jessica Kingsley 7) Likely timescale showing main key milestones in the process. The timescale may be presented as a list of dates and events, or as a diagram or chart. a) Jan 30 Random selection of subjects b) Feb 4 The selected interviewees will be contacted and time will be scheduled c) Feb 20 Literature Review d) Feb 30 Research Design e) March 15 Planning of the questionnaire and interview questions f) March 25 All the interviews will be conducted g) March 27 The questionnaire survey administration h) April 14 All the observations will be completed i) April 25 Data gathered will be tabulated and analysed j) Apr 30 Conclusions and recommendations k) May 13 Dissertation final submission Read More