Johanna Wood

Citation

Thesis Title
Professional Learning in Teen Parent (alternative) Education

Ms Wood's research explored the professional learning landscape for educators working in Teen Parent Units, an alternative educational system within New Zealand. An in-depth case study of three Teen Parent Units used complexity theory to consider teacher professional learning. Listening to educators in this space revealed that their professional learning landscape is shaped by a mix of interconnected and interwoven complexity drivers. Drawing on three subsystems, the teacher subsystem, the context subsystem, and the activity subsystem, the study provided a nuanced understanding of the professional learning landscape. While some features of the professional learning landscape were similar to secondary schools, there were unique drivers that shaped the professional learning landscape in the context of Teen Parent Units. To capture this uniqueness, the study proposed a fourth subsystem, the student subsystem, to map the professional learning landscape in this space.

Supervisors
Dr Glenda Anthony
Associate Professor Vijaya Muralidharan