Universitetet i Agder: UiA Journal System
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Extensive Reading: Resources and Strategies for Intermediate and Advanced Learners of Norwegian
No full textResearch has demonstrated the value of extensive reading to second language acquisition. However, reading in a second language classroom, in particular when access to reading materials is limited, is often restricted to passages available in the textbook. Therefore, teachers play an important role in promoting reading through creating classroom libraries, providing suggestions, including in-class reading activities, and talking to students about the role of reading in language development. Aiming to empower teachers of Norwegian to stock their libraries with varied reading materials and use those materials in their classrooms, this paper gives an overview of some available sources that can be used with intermediate (B1–B2) and advanced (C1–C2) learners as well as methods for including extensive reading in the classroom. Following a brief overview of the theoretical background on extensive reading, the paper explains how the discussed materials can be used to promote extensive reading in a second language both in the classroom and at home, including the use of specific strategies and activities such as free voluntary reading, sustained silent reading, book flood, literature circles, and book battles
How to understand the time we are living through
No full textThe article seeks to understand the long wave of neoliberal economic policies over the last thirty years and its impact on social conditions and the political situation in the West. The financial crisis of 2007-8 marks the end of this long wave, when some of the basic theories imploded, particularly the financial deregulation and the trickle down theories. The end of this wave opened an “empty room”, a period without direction and destiny. Governments and political leaders have been stuck in “unfettered globalization” and austerity policies, unprepared to present new policies for widely shared prosperity. The insecurity and the growing inequalities have been exploited by political forces inside and outside the leading political parties, offering simple solutions in the form of building walls and “taking back control”. Thus, in the absence of a strong progressive policy response from the established parties, the “empty room” has become “an explosive empty room” of neo-nationalism and regressive policies. While our societies have moved to the right in terms of economic and social policy, they have moved left in terms of values such as gender equality and individual rights. A combination of economic stagnation and social decline, “insecurity in times of change”, and progress in civil rights and gender equality, has triggered the kind of political and populist revolts that we now see in the US and in many parts of Europe, exploited by conservatives and far-right parties. This can be described as “discontent of declining expectations”. Democracy and democratic institutions are at risk
Industrial development as discursive change: A case of symbiotic learning
No full textThe Eyde Cluster is a network of companies at Agder seeking to enhance sustainabledevelopment through vocational training. A dialogical approach is taken to developing anew discourse, using principles of communicative organisational change. There isdiscussion of a more bottom up approach, in line with Workplace Innovation. The paperargues for balancing formal education and vocational training in a way that createssymbiotic learning
Dealing with economic and demographic challenges: Workplace innovation practices as a timely and effective response to older workers' needs
No full textAbstract There is substantial evidence that workplace practices can support employee health and well-being. In the present paper we explore the role of a specific type of practices, workplace innovation (WI) practices, for older workers’ health and well-being. We start by arguing for a more comprehensive and less fragmented approach to workplace practices and for practices that can create the conditions to support both quality of working life and organisational performance. We then suggest that WI practices offer such an approach and present the evidence that links the effects of four types of WI practices (work organisation, structure and systems, learning and reflection, and workplace partnership) to a range of health and well-being outcomes (health, well-being, work engagement, performance, and decisions to delay retirement). Even though there is currently no direct empirical evidence that links WI practices to the health and well-being of older workers, the available research offers indirect support for a number of propositions for research and practice. These propositions can help and contribute to the development of a fruitful line of research on the impact of WI on older workers’ health and well-being. Keywords: Older workers, workplace innovation practices, human resource management, health, well-being, work engagement, performance, retiremen
CARE JOBS: an educational game on job quality in chronic care settings
No full textCARE JOBS is a game designed for educating people working in chronic care settings on the relation between job characteristics and job quality. The game is based on Karasek’s Job Demand/Control (JD/C) Model, which predicts that job quality results from the joint effects of workload (i.e. job demands) and autonomy (i.e. job control). The game is about dressing toy dolls, which represent residential care clients. Twelve, sixteen or twenty participants are divided over four tables, each representing a residential care unit. At each table, one of the job types identified by the JD/C Model is simulated. Job demands are manipulated by controlling the number of dolls. Job controls are manipulated by (lack of) strict clothing rules and (lack of) access to extra clothing in the storage. Participants are instructed to dress their residents in six minutes time. In the debriefing, participants are asked after their results and experiences. Guided by the facilitator, participants reconstruct the JD/C Model. The full game can be played in half an hour time. The game is appealing because of its simplicity, and offers starting points for further interventions in the organization of work
Innovation Management in Swedish Municipalities
No full textResearch on public sector innovation is still limited, and increased knowledge of innovation processes is needed. This article is a based on a study of the fulfillment of innovation policies in Swedish municipalities and gives a first-hand, empirical view of the complexities of innovation in the public sector. The study took place in four municipalities in central Sweden. The municipalities varied in size and organizational forms. Interviews and policy documents were used for data collection. The results showed that the innovation policies were not followed by action, which may be described as not mobilizing dynamic capabilities to create innovativeness. Thus, dynamic capabilities such as learning and HRM were not used in conjunction with innovation. Particularly amongst senior management there was a negative attitude towards the innovative capacity of their organization. Middle management saw possibilities. However barriers such as extensive control systems removed the focus from innovation. Communication lacked between senior management and middle management regarding innovation. The conclusion was that innovation, as both concept and practice, was not fully embraced by the municipalities. It is suggested that a generative leadership, opening up for communication within the organizations, especially between employees, could be beneficial and that a common understanding and definition of the innovation concept is needed. Integration of top-down processes with bottom-up processes, such as employee-driven innovation, is also suggested
Success at work requires hope and the ability to life-long learning
No full textAs the work life is changing fast at the moment, new studies on psychosocial dimensions of work are needed to improve efficiency, productivity, and well-being in workplaces. This was a qualitative study employing a mixed-methods approach to study enterprise personnel’s perceptions of success at work. Leaders and supervisors (N=15) in a northern Finnish mid-size enterprise were interviewed personally about how they understand success and the related factors. The data were complemented by open-ended questionnaires filled out by employees (N=29) of the enterprise. The data collection took place in 2014. The purpose was to find the key elements of success when analyzed from a positive psychological viewpoint. The findings provide information about the means to promote productivity, well-being, and sense of meaning at work. Changes in work appeared the most crucial factor influencing success at work in the target enterprise. The attitude to and coping with changes were analyzed through reported experiences. The analysis showed that learning new methods and attitudes at work requires not only persistency and willingness to learn but also optimism and hopefulness
Are healthy workplaces innovative? How workplace health management can help launching workplace innovation
No full textBased on a review of existing literature and studies, the author explores the synergies between workplace innovation and workplace health management. The object of investigation is the overlap between workplace health management and workplace innovation with a hybrid primary focus on concurrent improvement of organisational performance and quality of working life. The review provides an insight into which internal and external elements play a decisive role in the process towards better performance and quality of working life. The author clarifies how workplace health management and workplace innovation share common ground with respect to the salutogenic quality of an organisational system. Moreover, he suggests a model to conceptually distinguish workplace health management and workplace innovation with regard to the specific focus. Finally, the comparison points to opportunities how the two concepts can reinforce each other