Playing tertiary tetris: Valuing the voices of casual educators in higher education
Presentation
Paper/Presentation Title | Playing tertiary tetris: Valuing the voices of casual educators in higher education |
---|---|
Presentation Type | Presentation |
Authors | Davis, Ian (Author), Abel, Susan (Author), Feldman, Courtney (Author) and Bedford, Alison (Author) |
Journal or Proceedings Title | 44th Annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Conference (HERDSA 2022): Book of Abstracts |
ERA Conference ID | 50426 |
Number of Pages | 1 |
Year | 2022 |
Place of Publication | Australia |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | https://conference.herdsa.org.au/2022/ |
Conference/Event | 44th Annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA 2022) |
Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Annual Conference | |
Event Details | 44th Annual Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA 2022) Event Date 27 to end of 30 Jun 2022 Event Location Melbourne, Australia |
Event Details | Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia Annual Conference HERDSA Annual International Conference |
Abstract | Working as a casual educator in the HE environment has parallels with playing a game of 'Tetris'. To survive the game, and build a cohesive professional identity, casual educators must strategically negotiate the numerous demands of their role, and battle to create order out of chaos. 'As sessional academics become the new normal' (Cowen, 2018, p. 7) this research explores how casual educators within a regional Australian university are valued, developed, and supported in their work. The 'Foundations of Learning and Teaching' (Foundations) program at the University of Southern Queensland was developed as a strategic solution to address key issues faced by casual educators including communication, isolation, and remuneration (Biak, 2018). Through a 'whole-of-institution approach' (Biak, 2018, p. 385), and with a 'sustainable, holistic long-term strategy' (p. 385), Foundations also sought to ensure this workforce’s competence in the design and delivery of learning. This research explores the lived experiences of casual educators to understand the benefits of participation in the Foundations program. Using a narrative inquiry framework, data is presented in narratives by three of the co-authors as co-makers, to explore the contextual landscape of the diverse motivations, identities, and complexities attached to the conditions of this workforce. An 'analysis of narratives' (Polkinghorne, 1988) was undertaken to gain an understanding of how professional development opportunities impact on casual educators’ performance and ongoing development. The findings offer a variety of perspectives on casual educators’ work experiences and career aspirations and highlight the precarious employment conditions of this workforce. With limited opportunities for networking, social support, professional development, or mentoring within the university community, Foundations enabled casual educators to 'connect with other players', and 'know the winning moves', supporting them to confidently 'play by the rules' and survive the game of 'Tertiary Tetris'. |
Keywords | sessional educator, casual educator, precarity, narrative inquiry, higher education |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 390303. Higher education |
390403. Educational administration, management and leadership | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q7994/playing-tertiary-tetris-valuing-the-voices-of-casual-educators-in-higher-education
53
total views5
total downloads1
views this month0
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
Remixing Influencers: Academics Reading and Writing About Philosophy and Pop Culture
Barnes, N., Bedford, A., Jefferies, M., McCandless, T., Thomas, M. and Firth, K.. "Remixing Influencers: Academics Reading and Writing About Philosophy and Pop Culture." Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) 2022 Annual Conference. Adelaide, South Australia 27 Nov - 01 Dec 2022Critical and collaborative problem-solving: An action research project on the development of cognition-centred inquiry for Year 11 senior history
Bedford, Alison. 2023. "Critical and collaborative problem-solving: An action research project on the development of cognition-centred inquiry for Year 11 senior history." Impact. (18).Direct and Indirect Benefits: an Open Peer Review of Zamarti, L. & Nally, D. (2023). The impact of archaeology professional development on history teachers’ pedagogy.
Bedford, Alison. 2023. "Direct and Indirect Benefits: an Open Peer Review of Zamarti, L. & Nally, D. (2023). The impact of archaeology professional development on history teachers’ pedagogy. " Public History Review. 11 (1).If these stones could speak: War memorials and contested memory
Kerby, Martin, Baguley, Margaret, Bedford, Alison and Gehrmann, Richard. 2021. "If these stones could speak: War memorials and contested memory." Historical Encounters. 8 (3), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.52289/hej8.301In the Heart of the Land and the People they Loved: Community responses to commemoration
Kerby, Martin, Maddock, Daniel, Gehrmann, Richard, Baguley, Margaret and Bedford, Alison. 2021. In the Heart of the Land and the People they Loved: Community responses to commemoration. Toowoomba, Australia.Implied Rather than Intended? Children’s Picture Books, Civil Religion, and the First Landing on the Moon
Kerby, Martin, Baguley, Margaret, Bedford, Alison and Maddock, Daniel. 2022. "Implied Rather than Intended? Children’s Picture Books, Civil Religion, and the First Landing on the Moon." Children's Literature in Education: an international quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10583-022-09519-3What you should know now about the NSW government and Dolores Umbridge’s evil ways [Blog post]
Bedford, Alison. 2022. "What you should know now about the NSW government and Dolores Umbridge’s evil ways [Blog post]." EduResearch Matters: A Voice for Australian Education Researchers. 7 November 2022.The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science
Machin, Tony, Machin, Tanya, Jeffries, Carla, Hoare, Nancey and Abel, Susan. Machin, Tony, Machin, Tanya, Jeffries, Carla, Hoare, Nancey and Abel, Susan (ed.) 2022. The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science. Toowoomba, Australia. University of Southern Queensland.