Vocational Environments Research Articles

Innovative Learning Strategies for Islamic Religious Education Based on Merdeka Belajar Curriculum in Vocational High Schools

Innovative learning strategies for Islamic Religious Education are needed to improve cognitive abilities, including analysis, application, creation, presentation, and implementation; affective abilities, including appreciation and organization or characterization; and psychomotor abilities, with the perception of the Qur'an and Hadith, which can enrich the vocational needs of students. This qualitative case study research aims to describe and analyze innovative learning strategies for Islamic Religious Education at Mambaul Ulum Vocational High School based on the Merdeka Belajar curriculum. Data collection through interviews, observations, and documentation. Testing the validity of the collected data through triangulation, expert discussions, and member checking. Data analysis using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana methods with data condensation, data presentation, and conclusion. The study showed that the Islamic Religious Education teachers implemented three innovative learning strategies. First, problem-based learning integrates religious concepts with real issues to develop cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities. Second, inquiry-based learning through independent investigation and applying religious concepts in everyday life to deepen understanding. Third, flipped classroom combines independent learning at home with classroom discussion activities. Applying three innovative learning strategies has an impact on increasing learning motivation, knowledge of worship, and critical thinking skills. The value of this research lies in the application of learning strategies that connect religious concepts with actual practices to improve the quality of learning in vocational environments. The research findings strengthen constructivism through problem-based, inquiry-based, and flipped classroom theory by showing that active, collaborative, and interactive learning improves understanding and application of learning materials.

‛Until you're in the chair and executing your role, you don't know': A qualitative study of the needs and perspectives of people with stroke-related communication disabilities when returning to vocational activity.

People with communication disability after stroke experience low rates of return to vocational roles. Vocational rehabilitation is recommended; however, there are no clear guidelines informing vocational rehabilitation for people with communication disability. Understanding the needs and experiences of this population is critical to improving vocational stroke rehabilitation outcomes. This study aimed to: (1) investigate the experience of vocational rehabilitation for people with communication disability after stroke, (2) identify gaps and, (3) provide preliminary recommendations for tailored service delivery. Seven participants with an identified communication impairment following stroke were recruited from a larger clinical trial of early vocational rehabilitation (20% of total sample, n = 34). To address the study aims, a qualitative design was employed. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. Data were integrated with demographic and intervention audit data to contextualise participant experiences, identify vocational rehabilitation gaps and inform preliminary recommendations. Participants were five men and two women aged 24-69 years whose communication profiles included difficulties with auditory comprehension and information processing, reading comprehension, thinking, executive function and self-regulation, as well as difficulties with verbal and written expression. Vocational rehabilitation was perceived as beneficial but participants identified gaps including limited access to psychological and peer-based support during early rehabilitation, limitations to accessing specialist vocational rehabilitation programs, barriers to accessing ongoing rehabilitation after resumption of vocational activity, and limited preparedness for the degree of impact that their communication changes had on execution of vocational roles and responsibilities. Vocational environments are communicatively demanding and people living with acquired communication difficulties face a range of vocation-related participation barriers even when communication difficulties are mild. Greater emphasis on evaluating the vocational communication environment and targeted communication training and preparation for colleagues within the workplace is recommended to reduce barriers faced. Interdisciplinary rehabilitation, inclusive of psychological care, may support working-age stroke survivors to recognise and acknowledge changes in their communication function, lead to improved engagement in the rehabilitation process, and ensure early identification of factors likely to influence successful return-to-vocational activity. What is already known on the subject Stroke is common amongst people of working age yet fewer than half of stroke survivors will return to pre-stroke vocational roles. Communication difficulties affect anywhere between 24% and 45% of people after stroke and include changes to language abilities, motor speech, vision, hearing and cognition. This group experiences much lower rates of return to vocational roles when compared to people with stroke who do not have a concomitant communication difficulty. Vocational rehabilitation is recommended. However, currently there is limited evidence to inform vocational rehabilitation guidelines for people with stroke and communication difficulties. Achieving a successful return to vocational activity is associated with improved life satisfaction for people with communication difficulties after stroke and is a key research priority for this population. What this study adds This study investigated the experiences of people with communication difficulty after stroke who reported a goal of returning to pre-stroke vocational activity. Data associated with types of interventions received, the experiences and perceptions of vocational rehabilitation, and experiences of returning to vocational activity were analysed to identify core rehabilitation needs and develop preliminary recommendations to inform future vocational rehabilitation guidelines for this population. What are the clinical implications of this work? The present study provides preliminary evidence that people experiencing communication difficulties after stroke require a more integrated rehabilitation pathway. During early stages of vocational rehabilitation psychological and peer-based support is indicated to support adjustment to changed communication function and to enable productive goal setting and engagement in rehabilitation. Clinicians need to complete a detailed analysis of the vocational communication environment and consider the communication activities involved in the individual's future vocational duties in order to plan meaningful rehabilitation. A multidisciplinary approach is required and additional training for clinicians is indicated to support clinicians to work collaboratively within the vocational setting.

Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Self-Instruction of Video Activity Schedules for Vocational Skills

This study evaluated the effects of behavior skills training (BST) as a means to acquire and generalize self-instruction behaviors using video activity schedules (VidAS) loaded on an iPod Touch for four high school students with intellectual disabilities. Behavior skills training procedures were implemented in two different vocational training environments and evaluated using a multiple probe across participants design. Following the mastery criterion in the training environments, the generalization of self-instruction behaviors to two different vocational training environments was assessed. All participants acquired self-instruction behaviors with BST instruction. However, only three of four participants independently generalized responding to two additional vocational environments. Results and directions for future research regarding training loosely and using multiple exemplars to program for generalization are discussed.

An Other Perspective on Five Factor Machiavellianism

Previous research has found that traditional assessments of Machiavellianism have insufficient construct coverage and strongly overlap with psychopathy. Tackling these issues, Collison et al. developed the Five Factor Machiavellianism Inventory (FFMI), comprising antagonism, agency, and planfulness. Research by Kückelhaus et al. strongly supports the FFMI’s construct validity. However, both of these previous studies share the limitation of common source bias. Therefore, in this study, target participants provided the FFMI self-assessments and coworkers assessed targets in terms of social competency, vocational environments, and occupational success. In a sample of 425 target-coworker dyads, we found that the traditional measures of MACH show a high degree of similarity with psychopathy, while the FFMI is discriminant from psychopathy and shows divergence from traditional measures of MACH with reference to coworker ratings of social competencies, vocational environments, and occupational success. Finally, we explored the interactive relations of the FFMI factors as emergent interpersonal syndromes. The number of significant interactions (18%) clearly exceeded a false positive rate of 5%. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Empathy and psychopathic traits as predictors of selection into business or psychology disciplines

ObjectiveThe attraction, selection, and attrition model posits that individuals actively self‐select into vocational and educational environments based on their personality traits and values. The present study investigated whether pre‐existing empathy and psychopathic personality trait differences in newly enrolled first year undergraduate students predicted selection into psychology and business vocational pathways respectively.MethodAn online self‐report survey collected data on levels of psychopathic traits and empathy from 380 newly enrolled first year business and psychology undergraduate students to examine whether these pre‐existing personality traits could predict academic discipline attraction and selection.ResultsBinary logistic regression analysis partially supported the proposed hypotheses. Cognitive empathy, gender, and social desirability scores were found to be significant predictors of student discipline, with females, those with higher cognitive empathy and lower social desirability scores more likely to be attracted and selected into a psychology rather than a business degree. Small to moderate effect size differences were observed, with psychology students reporting significantly higher cognitive empathy (d = 0.53) and lower interpersonal psychopathy (d = 0.27) than business students.ConclusionsFindings highlight specific personality trait differences present between newly enrolled business and psychology students and the importance of these pre‐existing differences in student vocational decision‐making. It is anticipated that findings may assist vocational and career counsellors in guiding prospective students in the direction of a vocational pathway that is best suited to their personality, as this is likely to result in increased student satisfaction and self‐esteem whilst reducing student attrition.

An interdisciplinary exploration of collegiate internships

Purpose– Collegiate internships play an important role in the development of professionals. They provide students the opportunity to experience real world expectations embedded within actual vocational environments under the support of their collegiate faculty. Although there are a number of common reasons why internships are utilized in each academic area, the requirements for the experiences are substantially different across disciplines and level of coursework. The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the commonalities and differences that exist for internships across collegiate academic disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and identify their salience for programs from an interdisciplinary perspective.Design/methodology/approach– For this conceptual piece, the authors took an introspective qualitative look at both programs and compared and contrasted them based on internally available documentation and information. Although this was theoretical in nature, the authors utilized materials available for certification and accreditation purposes for each of their programs. Multiple data sources were stakeholder interviews and conversations, site visits/observations, and site artifacts/documents.Findings– The authors found a great deal of both similarity and dissimilarity across programs, and these findings were utilized as grounds for programmatic introspection, evaluation, accreditation, and certification to better understand how stakeholder voice is involved in the processes. Table I provides an overview of items identified, and will serve as a guide for the remainder of this paper.Originality/value– An inclusive awareness will consider the voices of the student, university, employer, and other stakeholders, including co-workers and employers that currently do not offer internships. Given the rising cost of tuition and the wealth of competition in the market, the pressure is on for institutions of higher education to up the ante when it comes to providing quality experiential learning opportunities. The next step should focus on defining expectations and tailoring each internship program, and for that to be accomplished, all stakeholders must be “all in.”

Research methods teaching in vocational environments: developing critical engagement with knowledge?

Knowledge of research methods is regarded as crucial for the UK economy and workforce. However, research methods teaching is viewed as a challenging area for lecturers and students. The pedagogy of research methods teaching within universities has been noted as underdeveloped, with undergraduate students regularly expressing negative dispositions to the subject. These are challenges documented in university-based higher education (HE), yet little is known of the practices and pedagogies of research methods teaching in the college-based HE setting, where the delivery of HE has grown in prominence in recent years. Because college-based HE is widely regarded as primarily vocational, incorporating research methods into curricula may be seen as an additional level of complexity for staff to negotiate. In this article, we report on the data collected within a study to examine research methods teaching in social science disciplines on HE programmes taught in college-based settings in England. Drawing on data obtained from college-based HE lecturers and students, we discuss features of research methods teaching and how these may be applied with a diverse student body, within vocationally focused institutions. Issues of institutional culture, resourcing and staff development are also considered as these are identified as integral to the successful embedding of research methods teaching.

Higher Vocational College Physical Education Situation Analysis and Reform

In recent years, Chinese higher vocational education reform has made great achievements. However, physical education reform, as one part of the higher vocational education, lags far behind other curriculum reforms. Along with the rapid development of higher vocational education in our country, the number of higher vocational colleges has become larger than that of undergraduate colleges. But, quite a few higher vocational colleges are upgraded from secondary vocational schools. Although they still belong to the institutions of the higher learning, the educational ideas and positioning of them are totally different from those of undergraduate colleges. So the teaching reform of physical education must change based on the new situation of higher vocational physical education teaching environments. Through the analysis about the present situation of higher vocational colleges, the author puts forward the idea and thoughts of education reform as below.

How is vocational knowledge recontextualised?

This paper sets out to examine how vocational knowledge is recontextualised in curricula, pedagogy and workplaces, by learners, and to ensure the availability of valuable and relevant knowledge for vocational practice. Starting from Bernstein’s notion of recontextualisation, and with reference to literature in the sociology of educational knowledge, studies of workplace learning and learning theory, recontextualisation is understood here as a socio-epistemic process which is influenced by the interrelation between the distinct structures of different knowledge types and the social dynamics of vocational education infrastructure. Various aspects of recontextualisation are considered, including whether the overall process can be disaggregated to reveal a series of separate elements, how knowledge is transformed and concepts are developed, and influences on the character of recontextualisation. Potential tensions that may affect recontextualisation in vocational environments are identified, and some conditions for reconciling these are briefly discussed.

Liman Çalışanlarının Mesleki Tükenmişlik Seviyelerinin İncelenmesi: Bir Liman Uygulaması

Vocational burnout is defined as a psychological malady, or disease, likely to stem from certain pressure on mind as well as tough and stressful working conditions. In other words, it is thought to get exhausted both physically and psychologically mainly due to vocational (professional) environments. A relevant literature review reveals that vocational fatigue or burnout has been studied for various vocational groups. The ever growing trade volume has recently affected the growth of seaborne trade and thus shipping, which in turn has increased the work density at seaports. Hence, the working conditions at seaports, for those who have chosen to work at ports as their career, have become tougher and tougher. That’s why the population sample for this study has constituted the employees of a seaport. The purpose of this research is to analyze the extent (level) of vocational fatigue seaport employees suffer from. For this analysis, “Maslach Burnout Inventory”, one of the most prevalent fatigue-related inventories, has been used. In this research, the extents/levels of fatigue have been interrelated with the demographic data concerning the seaport employees, and the effect of the fatigue levels on vocational careers has been scrutinized

The Application of Signature Character Strengths and Positive Experiences at Work

We hypothesized that the amount of positive experiences at work (job satisfaction, pleasure, engagement, meaning) is a function of the extent to which the situational circumstances at the workplace allow for the application of an individual’s signature character strengths. For the description of the individual a reliable and valid instrument already exists, but not for the environment. Hence, the newly developed Applicability of Character Strengths Rating Scales (ACS-RS) with information on its reliability and validity were also presented. A sample of 1,111 adults filled in the ACS-RS and measures for possession of character strengths and positive experiences at work. The ACS-RS was reliable by means of internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. It proved to be valid in several ways being sensitive to: (a) the differences in the applicability of trait-relevant behavior in formal versus informal situations by showing higher applicability of the character strengths in the latter; (b) the differences between traits regarding their applicability across situations; (c) people’s disposition to choose situations fitting their dispositions by showing positive relationships between the degree of possession and applicability. Moreover, correlations between applicability of strengths and positive experiences increased with the individual centrality of the strengths. The more signature strengths were applied at the workplace, the higher the positive experiences at work. This study showed that character strengths matter in vocational environments irrespective of their content. Strengths-congruent activities at the workplace are important for positive experiences at work like job satisfaction and experiencing pleasure, engagement, and meaning fostered by one’s job.

Exploring the effects of congruence and Holland’s personality codes on job satisfaction: An application of hierarchical linear modeling techniques

This study applied hierarchical linear modeling to investigate the effect of congruence on intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of job satisfaction. Particular focus was given to differences in job satisfaction by gender and by Holland’s first-letter codes. The study sample included nationally represented 1462 female and 1280 male college graduates who held full-time jobs in 2000. Congruence was measured by using actual occupational and academic major codes. After controlling for the differences across three-letter Holland personality codes, results indicate that job satisfaction was largely a function of individual attributes rather than disparities in personality types. Holland’s congruence was most effective in explaining intrinsic dimensions of job satisfaction for females, and less effective for extrinsic job satisfaction for both genders. Social females and males were less satisfied with extrinsic satisfaction, while Conventional and Social females were more satisfied with intrinsic features in their vocational environments.

A test of holland's theory of vocational personalities and work environments

This study investigated the validity of J. L. Holland's (1997) theory of vocational personalities and work environments. The sample consisted of 241 randomly selected members of the National Association of School Psychologists, each of whom completed a demographic data form, the Self‐Directed Search‐Revised (SDS‐R; J. L. Holland, 1994) and a modified short form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (D. J. Weiss, R. V. Dawis, G. W. England, & L. H. Lofquist, 1967). Only limited support was found for major constructs associated with Holland's theory, although the study found several significant relationships between 3‐letter SDS‐R codes and desired role function as would be predicted by Holland's theory.

Uncertainty as a Predictor of Adjustment to an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Although the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death, some recipients experience uncertainty and adjustment problems related to the device. The study's purpose was to test hypotheses that predicted defibrillator recipients with greater uncertainty would have less psychosocial adjustment overall; less adjustment in the domestic, social, and vocational environments and in sexual relationships; and have more psychological distress at 1 and 8 weeks following hospital discharge. A repeated measures, correlational survey design was used with 94 adult defibrillator recipients from 4 hospitals. The Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale Self-Report, and demographics were completed at both time points. The sample was predominantly white, male, and married. There were no gender differences and younger adults had more adjustment problems than older adults. Results supported all but 2 hypotheses as participants had less psychosocial adjustment overall, less adjustment in all domains except vocational environment, and more psychological distress at 1 and 8 weeks after discharge. In conclusion, ICD recipients with greater uncertainty were at greater risk for psychosocial adjustment problems during the first 2 months and may require interventions, particularly younger adults.

The Vocational Personality of School Psychologists in the United States

This study represents the first empirical test of the vocational personality of US school psychologists. Specifically, we investigated the personality of school psychologists using Holland's (1997) well-researched theory of vocational personalities and work environments. The sample consisted of 241 randomly selected members of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The Self-Directed Search (Holland, 1994) was used to identify personality types. Results offered general support for the three-letter vocational personality code for school psychologists that is listed in the Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes (Gottfredson and Holland, 1996).

Breast Cancer

Although various forms of psychoeducation and counseling interventions have been examined among patients with a variety of diagnoses, the unique contribution of phase-specific psychoeducation and telephone counseling (TC) to the ongoing process of adjustment has not been explored among patients with breast cancer and their partners. To conduct a randomized controlled clinical trial of phase-specific evidence-based psychoeducation and TC interventions to enhance emotional, physical, and social adjustments in patients with breast cancer and their partners. A purposive sample of 249 patient-partner dyads were assigned randomly to one of four groups: (a) control group receiving disease management (DM), (b) standardized psychoeducation (SE), (c) TC, or (d) standardized psychoeducation plus telephone counseling (SE + TC). Data were collected at baseline, diagnostic, postsurgery, adjuvant therapy, and ongoing recovery phases measuring emotional, physical, and social adjustments. Patients showed poorer adjustment over time in the DM group relative to those receiving interventions on selected measures of emotional adjustment. All patients showed improvement over time in overall health and adjustment in social and vocational environments. Partners in all groups exhibited improvement over time for measures of adjustment in the social environment but no changes in psychological well-being or overall health. Partners in the TC group had poorer scores on physical symptoms compared with the SE + TC group and poorer vocational scores compared with the DM group. Findings from this study provide preliminary support for the value of phase-specific SE and TC interventions to enhance selected adjustment outcomes for patients with breast cancer and their partners.

Congruence of Holland's Theory of Vocational and Work Environments with GPA of College Students in the United Arab Emirates

Holland's theory of vocational personalities and work environment, extended to educational environments, was used as a theoretical framework for the study of the relation of congruence and sex on self-reported GPA. 617 students at Ajman University of Science and Technology responded to the Vocational Preference Inventory. Analysis of variance indicated that students' congruence and sex were significant predictors of GPA and the interaction of GPA and sex. Associations of sex with congruence and with Academic Environment were significant, represented by choice of major. Implications of the findings were discussed.

The changing contexts of vocational education: implications for institutional vocational learning

With the rapidly transforming nature of vocational work, it is increasingly challenging for vocational teachers in institutional environments to develop learning that is relevant and sustainable. Although it has been widely observed that new pedagogies are essential in this changing vocational environment, little guidance is emerging for both vocational teachers and teacher educators on what new approaches will enhance institutional vocational learning. This creates the clear need for focussed research to guide potential frameworks for future vocational teaching and learning practice. This paper investigates the challenges of designing effective and sustainable vocational learning environments in institutional settings. In particular, it focuses on what Chappell and Johnston (2003) have described as the ‘zone of maximum disturbance’: the contemporary TAFE system that increasingly has to confront conflicting expectations of its role as a public institutional provider of vocational education. It is apparent that innovative pedagogical frameworks need to emerge within these growing institutional and political constraints to enhance the ability of teachers to create meaningful learning experiences in institutionally-based vocational education.

Psychiatric Leisure Rehabilitation: Conceptualization and Illustration.

Leisure or recreational rehabilitation is not much developed in psychiatric rehabilitation. I present some definitions and a (very) brief history of the notion of leisure, as well as the role of leisure in health. I then describe a novel classification of leisure activities relevant to people with psychiatric disabilities. Following that, I conceptualize the process of psychiatric leisure rehabilitation, illustrated by a case study. I conclude with the benefits of psychiatric leisure rehabilitation and with suggestions for further study and development in this field. Leisure or recreational activities are central in modern life. Not so for persons who have serious and disabling mental disorders. This is manifest even in psychiatric rehabilitation, which mostly addresses vocational and residential--rather than leisure--environments (Anthony, Cohen, Farkas & Gagne, 2002; Corrigan, 2003). Yet leisure is important for persons with psychiatric disabilities, perhaps especially so for those who are not successful or satisfied in vocational environments. This paper outlines a conceptual framework for psychiatric leisure rehabilitation, based on a novel classification of leisure activities, and illustrates this with a case vignette. But first, some definitions and a (very) brief history of the notion of leisure is in order, as well as a presentation of facts about the role of leisure in health (physical and mental).

Career self-efficacy, career outcome expectations and vocational interests among Japanese university students.

The Social Cognitive Career Model proposes that career interests arise from beliefs about capability to execute a course of activity (self-efficacy), and beliefs about the consequences of performing particular activities (outcome expectations). In our study, 301 Japanese university students were given questionnaires including the Vocational Preference Inventory and scales assessing Career Self-efficacy and Career-outcome Expectations. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated both self-efficacy and outcome expectations were significantly related to vocational interests. Outcome expectations accounted for significant incremental variance in explaining interests across six of Holland's vocational environments. Implications of social cognitive theory for career development and interventions among Japanese university students are discussed.