Adaptive agency

IF 0.8 4区教育学 Q3 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

English Teaching-Practice and Critique Pub Date : 2019-06-03 DOI:10.1108/etpc-03-2019-0030

A. Goodwyn

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引用次数: 2

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to introduce the concept of adaptive agency and illustrate its emergence in the field of English teaching in a number of countries using England over the past 30 years as a case study. It examines how the exceptional flexibility of English as school subject has brought many external impositions whilst its teachers have evolved remarkable adaptivity. Design/methodology/approach It proposes several models of agency and their different modes, focussing finally on adaptive agency as a model that has emerged over a 30-year period. It considers aspects of this development across a number of countries, mostly English speaking ones, but its chief case is that of England. It is principally a theoretical paper drawing on Phenomenology, Critical Realism and later modernist interpretations of Darwinian Theory, but it is grounded by drawing on two recent empirical projects to illustrate English teachers’ current agency. It offers a fresh overview of how agency and accountability have interacted within a matrix of official policy and constraint. Findings Adaptive agency has become a necessary aspect of teacher expertise. Such a mode of working creates great emotional strains and tensions, leading to many teachers leaving the profession. However, many English teachers whilst feeling controlled in the matrix of power and the panopticon of surveillance, remain resilient and positive about the future of the subject. Research limitations/implications This is to some extent a personal and reflexive account of a lived history, supported by research and other evidence. Practical implications Adaptive agency enables teachers to conceptualise the frustrations of the role but to celebrate how they expertly use their agency where they can. It makes their work and struggle more comprehensible. In providing the concept of harmonious practice, it offers the hope of a return to more satisfying professional lives. Originality/value This paper offers an original concept, adaptive agency, and discusses other valuable conceptualisations of agency and accountability. It combines a unique individual perspective with a fresh overview of the past three decades as experienced by English teachers in England.

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自适应机构

本文旨在介绍适应性代理的概念，并以英国过去30年的英语教学为例，说明它在许多国家英语教学领域的出现。它考察了英语作为学校学科的特殊灵活性是如何带来许多外部强加的，而它的教师已经进化出了显著的适应性。设计/方法/方法它提出了代理的几个模型及其不同的模式，最后集中在自适应代理作为一个模型已经出现了30年。它考虑了许多国家(主要是讲英语的国家)这种发展的各个方面，但主要是英格兰的情况。这主要是一篇关于现象学、批判现实主义和后来对达尔文理论的现代主义解释的理论论文，但它是基于最近的两个实证项目来说明英语教师当前的代理。它对机构和问责制如何在官方政策和约束的矩阵中相互作用提供了新的概述。适应性代理已经成为教师专业知识的一个必要方面。这种工作模式造成了巨大的情感压力和紧张，导致许多教师离开了这个职业。然而，许多英语教师虽然感觉受到权力矩阵和监视的控制，但仍然对这门学科的未来保持弹性和积极的态度。研究的局限性/启示在某种程度上，这是对一段活生生的历史的个人和反思性描述，有研究和其他证据支持。实际意义适应性代理使教师能够概念化角色的挫折，但庆祝他们如何在可能的情况下熟练地使用代理。它使他们的工作和斗争更容易理解。在提供和谐实践的概念时，它提供了回归更令人满意的职业生活的希望。原创性/价值本文提出了一个原创的概念，适应性代理，并讨论了代理和问责制的其他有价值的概念。它结合了独特的个人视角和过去三十年英国英语教师经验的全新概述。

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来源期刊

English Teaching-Practice and Critique Multiple-

CiteScore

1.40

自引率

11.10%

发文量

期刊介绍： English Teaching: Practice and Critique seeks to promote research and theory related to English literacy that is grounded in a range of contexts: classrooms, schools and wider educational constituencies. The journal has as its main focus English teaching in L1 settings. Submissions focused on EFL will be considered only if they have clear pertinence to English literacy in L1 settings. It provides a place where authors from a range of backgrounds can identify matters of common concern and thereby foster broad professional communities and networks. Where possible, English Teaching: Practice and Critique encourages comparative approaches to topics and issues. The journal published three types of manuscripts: research articles, essays (theoretical papers, reviews, and responses), and teacher narratives. Often special issues of the journal focus on distinct topics; however, unthemed manuscript submissions are always welcome and published in most issues.