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How do I improve my leadership as a team leader in Vocational Education in Further Education?


Abstract
Daisy Louisa Walsh. July 2004.



This dissertation is concerned with showing how I, as a Programme Area Team Leader, for Vocational 'A' level, GNVQ and GCSE ICT, at a Further Education College in the United Kingdom, have focussed on my commitment as an educator and team leader in an action enquiry research.

Using a reflective journal I recorded my thoughts on significant events throughout my practice. Using narratives I constructed representations from the data gathered. I traced and explored my journey as a team leader in Further Education. My concern was to improve my understanding of my leadership practice for the benefit of my team and my students. In examining my self-development, I have extended my own professional knowledge. I aim to be a better team leader for the formation of a more effective team.

This dissertation makes an important contribution to my personal, educational and professional development as the team leader. Vocational education, its leadership and management, is uncharted territory for many school and further education teachers who hold leadership position. By putting the work of my dissertation in the public domain, I hope that other team leaders in a similar vocational education context can relate in part to some of my experiences.


CONTENTS

You can download the MA in Parts in PDF format

Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................Pages
Title page…………..…………………………………………………………………………......... i
Copyright ……………….…………..…………………………………………………………….. ii
Acknowledgements…………..………………………………………………………………….. ..iii
Dedication …………..……………………………………………………………………………. iv
Abbreviations …………..………………………………………………………………………..... v
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………….vi
Author Declaration………………………………………………………………………………. .vii
Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………… viii
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………… ix - x


Chapter 1: Setting the Scene……………………………………………………………………1 - 10
Background - My starting point
Values: Personal Values as grounding for my leadership study
Spiritual Values
Context


Chapter 2: The Power of Words……………………………………………………………..11 - 23
Effective leadership and team leader's roles
Disaffected and disinterested stakeholders - the vocational FE assets
Continuing Professional Development to the rescue


Chapter 3: Methodology
…………………………………………………………………… . 24 - 32
Action Research is the approach
What is 'self' that is at the centre of our life?
Validation and data collection
The data collection instruments
My research - tracing the beginning


Chapter 4: The Data, The Evidence………………………………………………………….. 33 - 63
The voices that validate and quantity
My first set of data
Welcoming the strangers who bring new life
Creating opportunities for empowerment
Transformational leadership - leading beside peers
Taking responsibilities for learner's growth
Black is Beautiful
Being is first, Doing is second
Experience is a wonderful thing
Staking my claim to creating a living education theory
Limitations of process and outcomes of data collection methods
Reliability and validity of questionnaire
Reflecting on my reflective journal
Ethical Issues


Chapter 5: The Outcomes…………………………………………………………………… 64 - 70
The Conclusion: There are no such things as problems; simply opportunities for solutions


References ……………………………………………………………………………………71 - 73
Reflective Journal……………………………………………………………………………. 74 - 81
Appendices (Accessible in the copy in the Library of the University of Bath)