How to improve the support of teachers in enhancing motivation among adult students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Irish Further Education environment?

Reddin, Martina (2015) How to improve the support of teachers in enhancing motivation among adult students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Irish Further Education environment? Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The importance of further education is highlighted by Irish, European and International governments as crucial to our economic, social and cultural growth.

Further education needs to be of benefit to all participants but particularly to meet the educational, social and skill-force needs of the labour market. How then can we as teachers motivate and encourage prospective students to commence, participate and complete a course of study and become active participants in the workforce.

This dissertation sets out to examine how I can improve my practice and influence others by improving supports for teachers to help with adult student motivation. I focused on one main area within the study, the current support models available to teachers. Through reflection, I came to appreciate that the supports available could not address fully the issues faced by teachers in the college. Through this process I created an improved motivational framework as a supportive tool for teachers in the further education sector for the next academic year. This reflection brought me to a deeper understanding of myself as a leader in certain aspects of college structure.

An action research methodology was chosen which involved exploration of practices and areas I wished to improve. I used qualitative semi-structured interviews with nine FET sector teachers in a dual provision school to explore and review teachers’ influences on their students. Action research stimulated me to examine my own values and the contradictions in my role as a co-ordinator.

The interviews highlighted areas of best practice that worked for individual teachers and the need for continued professional development for all teaching staff in the sector and supported strategies.

The research provides teaching practitioners, college management and other stake-holders interesting insights into the area of motivation in a further education context. Copies of the improved framework as a pedagogical support tool are also available.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects / Types of education > LC5201 Education extension. Adult education. Continuing education H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Performance Management > Motivation
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Arts in Learning and Teaching
Depositing User:	Caoimhe Ní Mhaicín
Date Deposited:	22 Oct 2015 18:29
Last Modified:	22 Oct 2015 18:31
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/2110

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