Theories of staff development: Development and understanding
Titel:
Theories of staff development: Development and understanding
Auteur:
Webb, Graham
Verschenen in:
International journal for academic development
Paginering:
Jaargang 1 (1996) nr. 1 pagina's 63-69
Jaar:
1996-05
Inhoud:
This is the first of two papers which together consider a range of theoretical frames for the interpretation of staff development. These theoretical frames include 'reflective practice', 'deep' and 'surface' approaches to learning (phenomenography) and emancipatory action research, but there are worthy alternatives. The discourse of staff development (professional, educational, academic) is curiously limited in terms of criticism of its approaches, and in the exploration of alternative frames, such as those suggested by hermeneutics and post-modernism. In this paper the basic meaning of 'development' is examined and its links with progress and evolution critiqued. It is argued that the 'enlightenment' and evolutionary tradition of 'development' lies behind stage theories of learning (moral, psychological and cognitive development), and that behind these lie the cultural experience, prejudice and normative view of the author. An alternative approach, hermeneutics, focuses on human understanding, and although this aspect is apparent in the work of staff developers, it tends to be hidden in the academic discourse. The idea of the hermeneutical circle also offers interpretative insights for the process of staff development, and learning itself.
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