Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators
Self-constructed perceptions of early childhood educator professionalism were explored in a small-scale mixed-method survey using convenience sampling. Fifty-four educators in Ontario, Canada participated in the study and shared their views related to professionalism. A mixed-methodology was employe...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kura Publishing
2016-06-01
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| Series: | International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/134/131 |
| _version_ | 1797907905615233024 |
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| author | Debra Harwood Stephanie Tukonic |
| author_facet | Debra Harwood Stephanie Tukonic |
| author_sort | Debra Harwood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Self-constructed perceptions of early childhood educator professionalism were explored in a small-scale mixed-method survey using convenience sampling. Fifty-four educators in Ontario, Canada participated in the study and shared their views related to professionalism. A mixed-methodology was employed using an electronic questionnaire composed of closed- and open-ended questions on ideas related to professionalism. The results of the study demonstrated that all the educators held a strong self-perception of professionalism regardless of their level of education, reporting high levels of job satisfaction, competence, recognition as a professional from others, and self-recognition as a professional. Participants’ notions of professionalism focused on the qualities of an individual considered a professional (e.g., good listener, patient, and understanding) whereas discussions of criticality, authority, or the historical, gendered, cultural, racial, and social practices of early childhood education were noticeably absent. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T10:44:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-46ed49f2242341fea88dc3acfcec4633 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1307-9298 1307-9298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T10:44:19Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Kura Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-46ed49f2242341fea88dc3acfcec46332023-02-15T16:20:22ZengKura PublishingInternational Electronic Journal of Elementary Education1307-92981307-92982016-06-0184589600Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educatorsDebra Harwood0Stephanie Tukonic1Brock UniversityCommunity Services of Niagara RegionSelf-constructed perceptions of early childhood educator professionalism were explored in a small-scale mixed-method survey using convenience sampling. Fifty-four educators in Ontario, Canada participated in the study and shared their views related to professionalism. A mixed-methodology was employed using an electronic questionnaire composed of closed- and open-ended questions on ideas related to professionalism. The results of the study demonstrated that all the educators held a strong self-perception of professionalism regardless of their level of education, reporting high levels of job satisfaction, competence, recognition as a professional from others, and self-recognition as a professional. Participants’ notions of professionalism focused on the qualities of an individual considered a professional (e.g., good listener, patient, and understanding) whereas discussions of criticality, authority, or the historical, gendered, cultural, racial, and social practices of early childhood education were noticeably absent.https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/134/131Early childhood educatorprofessionalismmixed methods study |
| spellingShingle | Debra Harwood Stephanie Tukonic Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education Early childhood educator professionalism mixed methods study |
| title | Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators |
| title_full | Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators |
| title_fullStr | Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators |
| title_short | Babysitter or professional? Perceptions of professionalism narrated by Ontario early childhood educators |
| title_sort | babysitter or professional perceptions of professionalism narrated by ontario early childhood educators |
| topic | Early childhood educator professionalism mixed methods study |
| url | https://iejee.com/index.php/IEJEE/article/view/134/131 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT debraharwood babysitterorprofessionalperceptionsofprofessionalismnarratedbyontarioearlychildhoodeducators AT stephanietukonic babysitterorprofessionalperceptionsofprofessionalismnarratedbyontarioearlychildhoodeducators |