ACADEMIC STAFF DEVELOPMENT AS AN ENABLER TO GOOD TEACHING PRACTICES AT A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA

Authors

  • Zwelijongile Gaylard Baleni Walter Sisulu University (ZA) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4389-023X
  • Andrea Mqondisi Buka Walter Sisulu University (ZA)
  • Clever Ndebele Walter Sisulu University (ZA)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2022.2.6905

Keywords:

academic staff development, good teaching, pedagogical content knowledge

Abstract

Higher Education (HE) institutions have to provide support to Academic Staff Development (ASD) through policies, funding and strategies that afford lecturers opportunities to attend ASD disciplinary-based and professional training. Upgrading the nature of teaching and learning is a key strategy in HE and that responsibility lies with Higher Education institutions that identify with the innovative nature of teaching and learning. Good teaching is not an accident, it is achieved through continuous engagement and enhancement of lecturers on both content and innovative pedagogical skills. Such skills need to be horned continuously to close gap in lecturers’ gap and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) suits that approach.  This study was grounded on principles of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK).  It was conducted in one university campus comprising of two sites in the Eastern Cape in South Africa. A purposive sample of 51 academics was used for data collection. Content analysis was used to identify emerging themes from the interview responses. The findings showed that lecturers regard ASD as enhancing quality teaching and empowering lecturers to improve their lecturing skills and responsibilities.

References

Ajibade, Y.A., Adeleke, M.A. & Oyetoro, O.S. (2020). Relevance of the pedagogical training programme for lecturers and its challenges in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-IIe, Nigeria. Journal of Curriculum and Instruction, 14(1). Retrieved from https://jci-ilorin.org.ng/index.php/jci/article/view/93/98

Almarghani, E.M. & Mijatovic, I. (2017). Factors affecting student engagement in HEIs - it is all about good teaching. Teaching in HE. 22(8), 940-956. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2017.1319808

Balyer, A., Özcan, K. & Yildiz, A. (2017). Teacher Empowerment: School Administrators’ Roles. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 70, 1‒18. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1150231

Biku, T., Demas, T., Woldehawariat, N., Getahun, M., & Mekonnen, A. (2018). The effect of teaching without pedagogical training in St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 9, 893-904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S167944

Cameron, A. & Woods, C. (2016). A Proposed ‘Ladder of Learning’ For Academics’ Professional Development in Teaching. South African Journal of Higher Education, 30(6), 176‒190. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/A-proposed-'ladder-of-learning'-for-academics'-in-Cameron-Woods/46f8f85d1e6225d28967d228dba3546d80fa10fd

Chabaya, R.A. (2015). Academic Staff Development in HE Institutions: A Case Study of Zimbabwe State Universities. Thesis (D.Ed.) .Unisa.

Chikari, G., Rudhumbu, N., & Svotwa, D. (2015). Institutional Continuous Professional Development as a Tool for Improving Lecturer Performance in Private HE Institutes in Botswana. International Journal of HE Management (IJHEM,) 2(1), 26-39. Retrieved from https://ijhem.com/cdn/article_file/i-3_c-21.pdf

Clouder, L. (2010). Reflective Practice in Physiotherapy. Studies in HE, 25(2), 211-223. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/713696142

Daries, G.E.S. (2017). Funds of Knowledge and Practice of Early-Childhood Teachers in A Disadvantaged Context. Thesis (PhD).

European Science Institution (ESF). (2012). The Professionalisation of Academics as Lecturers in HE. Retrieves from http://archives.esf.org/fileadmin/Public_documents/Publications/professionalisation_academics.pdf

Evers, A., Van der Heijden, B., & Kreijns, K., (2016). Organizational and task factors influencing teachers’ professional development at work. European Journal of Training and Development, 40(1), 36-55. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-03-2015-0023

Hancherngchai, S., Jai-On, J., & Suttiamporn, W. (2018). Preservice Teacher’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Lesson Study. HRD Journal, 9(1). Retrieved from http://ojslib3.buu.in.th/index.php/hrd/article/view/5900

Hativa, N. (2015). What does the research say about good teaching and excellent teachers? Teaching in the Academia, 5, 42–74.

Hénard, F. & Rosereare, D. (2012). Fostering quality teaching in HE: Policies and practices. Paris, France: OECD Programme on Institutional Management in HE (IMHE). Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/education/imhe/QT%20policies%20and%20practices.pdf

Henard, F. & Leprince-Ringuet, S. (2008). The path to quality teaching in higher education (pp1-50). Last accessed from https://www.oecd.org/education/imhe/44150246.pdf on August, 10 2021.

Karban, K. & Smith, S. (2010). Developing Critical Reflection within an interprofessional learning programme. Leeds Metropolitan University

Kember, D. & Wong, A. (2000). Implications for evaluation from a study of students’ perceptions of good and poor teaching. Higher Education, 40, 69–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004068500314

Kultsum, U. (2017). The Concept of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK): Recognizing the English Teachers’ Competences in Indonesia. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, Volume 134. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.2991/icirad-17.2017.11

Marriss, D. (2011). Academic staff development. Sage key concepts: Key concepts in healthcare education, 1-6. Sage UK.

McMahon, T. & Thakore, H. (2006). Achieving Constructive Alignment: Putting Outcomes First. The Quality of HE, 3.Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ874250

McMillan, W. & Gordon, N. (2017). Being and becoming a university teacher. HE Research and Development, 36(4), 777-790. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2016.1236781

Meissel, K., Parr, J. M., & Timperley, H. S. (2016). ‘Can professional development of teachers reduce disparity in student achievement?’ Teaching and Teacher Education, 58, 163–173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.05.013

Nasser-Abu Alhija, F. (2017). Teaching in HE: Good teaching through students’ lens. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 54(2017), 4–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2016.10.006

Negassa, T. & Engdasew, Z. (2017). The impacts and challenges of pedagogical skills improvement program at Adama Science and Technology University. International Journal of Instruction, 10(4), 19-38. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1155591.pdf

Okolie, U.C., Igwe, P.A., Nwajiuba, C.A., Mlanga, S., Binuomote, M.O., Nwosu, H.E., & Ogbaekirigwe, C.O. (2020). Does PhD qualification improve pedagogical competence? A study on teaching and training in higher education. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-02-2019-0049.

Olsson, T., Martensson, K. & Roxa, T. (2010). Pedagogical competence–A development perspective from Lund University. In Ryegard, A., Apelgreen, K., & Olsson, T. 2010. A Swedish perspective on pedagogical competence. Division for Development of Teaching and Learning. Uppsala University.

Shulman, S. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review, 57, 1-22. Retrieved from https://people.ucsc.edu/~ktellez/shulman.pdf

Tsegay, S.M., Zegergish, M.Z., & Ashraf, M.A. (2018). Pedagogical practices and students’ experiences in Eritrean higher institutions. Higher Education for the Future, 5(1), 89-103. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1168039

Vorster, J. & Quinn, L., (2017). The “decolonial turn”: what does it mean for academic staff development? Education as Change, 21(1), 31–49. Retrieved from www.educationaschange.co.za.

Wood, L.N., Vu, T., Bower, M., Brown, N., Skalicky, J., Donovan, D., Loch, B., Joshi, N., & Bloom, W. (2011). Professional development for teaching in HE. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 42(7), 997-1009. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2011.608864

Downloads

Published

19.12.2022

How to Cite

Baleni, Z. G., Buka, A. M., & Ndebele, C. (2022). ACADEMIC STAFF DEVELOPMENT AS AN ENABLER TO GOOD TEACHING PRACTICES AT A HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION IN THE EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA. Education. Innovation. Diversity., 2(5), 37-46. https://doi.org/10.17770/eid2022.2.6905