International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2013, Vol. 9(2) 77-97

Progressive Educational Actions in a Post-Soviet Republic: Meaningful Collaborations and Empowerment

Delywn L. Harnisch, Timothy C. Guetterman, Olga Samofalova, & Yelena Kussis

pp. 77 - 97   |  Manu. Number: ijpe.2013.023

Published online: June 15, 2013  |   Number of Views: 110  |  Number of Download: 402


Abstract

As the last Soviet republic to become an independent nation, Kazakhstan has worked diligently to transform and develop its educational system including systemic changes related to decentralization, financing changes, and the shift to a credit system. A professional health sciences education workshop delivered in Kazakhstan exemplifies progressive educational approaches. Attendees were educators from universities across Kazakhstan. The workshop was the product of collaboration between educators in the United States and Kazakhstan. Team-based learning was both a pedagogic method and topic of the workshop. Technology played a central role in the workshop, as it was integral to workshop development, collaboration, and evaluation. Furthermore, technology became a key content area of the workshop, as the educators presented advances in technology and specific tools to aid in the education of future medical professionals in Kazakhstan. In the months following the workshop, attendees embraced the challenge to take what they have learned back to their own universities by telling their stories. Using the collaborative learning approach and technological tools from the workshop, the attendees‘ spirit of sharing reflects the dynamic development of education in Kazakhstan in the post-Soviet era.

Keywords: Kazakhstan, professional development, health sciences, collaborative learning, mixed methods, information and communication technologies


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Harnisch, D.L., Guetterman, T.C., Samofalova, O., Samofalova, & Kussis, Y. (2013). Progressive Educational Actions in a Post-Soviet Republic: Meaningful Collaborations and Empowerment . International Journal of Progressive Education, 9(2), 77-97.

Harvard
Harnisch, D., Guetterman, T., Samofalova, O., Samofalova, and Kussis, Y. (2013). Progressive Educational Actions in a Post-Soviet Republic: Meaningful Collaborations and Empowerment . International Journal of Progressive Education, 9(2), pp. 77-97.

Chicago 16th edition
Harnisch, Delywn L., Timothy C. Guetterman, Olga Samofalova, Samofalova and Yelena Kussis (2013). "Progressive Educational Actions in a Post-Soviet Republic: Meaningful Collaborations and Empowerment ". International Journal of Progressive Education 9 (2):77-97.

References
  1. Birman, B. F., Desimone, L., Porter, A. C., & Garet, M. S. (2000). Designing professional development that works. Educational Leadership, 57(8), 28-33. [Google Scholar]
  2. Bishop, A.P., & Bruce, B. (2005). Community informatics: Integrating action, research and learning. Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 31, 6-10.  doi: 10.1002/bult.2005.1720310603 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  3. Bruning, R.H., Schraw, G.J., Norby, M.M. (2011). Cognitive psychology and instruction (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  4. Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating qualitative and quantitative research: How is it done? Qualitative Research, 6, 97-113. [Google Scholar]
  5. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3nd  ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar]
  6. Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V.L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd  ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar]
  7. Dewey, J. (1938). Experience and education.  Indianapolis, IN: Kappa Delta Pi. [Google Scholar]
  8. Ginger, J., Kehoe, A. & Khanal, N. (2010, February). Exploring Methods in Community Informatics. Paper presentation at the iConference, Urbana-Champaign, IL. [Google Scholar]
  9. Gomez, R., & Camacho, K. (2011). Users of ICT at public access centers: Age, education, gender, and income differences in users. International Journal of Information Communication Technologies and Human Development, 3, 1-20. [Google Scholar]
  10. Gurstein, M. B. (2004). Editorial: Welcome to the Journal of Community Informatics. Journal of Community Informatics, 1, 2-4. [Google Scholar]
  11. Hansen, D.T. (2007). John Dewey on education and the quality of life. In D.T. Hansen (Ed.), Ethical visions of education: Philosophies in practice. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. [Google Scholar]
  12. Harnisch, D. L., Creswell, J. W., & Guetterman, T. (2012). Mixed methods specialists in action: Linking mixed methods research to learning and classroom assessment. In C. Secolsky & D. B. Denison (Eds.), Handbook on measurement, assessment, and evaluation in higher education (pp. 518-538).  New York, NY: Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  13. Heyneman, S.P. (2009). Moral standards and the professor: A study of faculty at universities in Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In S.P. Heyneman (Ed.), Buying your way into heaven: Education and corruption in international perspective (pp. 79-108). Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Sense. [Google Scholar]
  14. Ingvarson, L. (1998). Professional development as the pursuit of professional standards: The standards-based professional development system. Teaching and Teacher Education, 14, 127-140. [Google Scholar]
  15. International Crisis Group. (2001). Incubators of conflict: Central Asia’s localized poverty and social unrest. Brussels, Belgium: Author. [Google Scholar]
  16. International Crisis Group. (2003a). Central Asia: A last chance for change. Brussels, Belgium: Author. [Google Scholar]
  17. International Crisis Group. (2003b). Youth in central Asia: Losing the new generation. Brussels, Belgium: Author. [Google Scholar]
  18. Katsaga, A., Kulzhanov M., Karanikolos, M., & Rechel, B. (2012). Kazakhstan: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 14, 1-154. [Google Scholar]
  19. Kulzhanov M., & Rechel, B. (2007). Kazakhstan: Health system review. Health Systems in Transition, 9, 1-158. [Google Scholar]
  20. McCredie, J., & Pirani, J.A. (2012). A dozen gurus describe IT collaborations that work [Google Scholar]
  21. (Research Bulletin). Boulder, CO: Educause Center for Applied Research. [Google Scholar]
  22. Miller, C., & LaFramboise, L. (2009). Student learning outcomes after integration of quality and safety education competencies into a senior-level critical care course. Journal of Nursing Education, 48, 678-85. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20091113-07 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  23. Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan. (2009). System of higher education in Kazakhstan: Achievements and perspectives of development: County report. Astana, Kazakhstan: Author. [Google Scholar]
  24. Ministry of Health (2004). National program of health reform and development for 2005– 2010. Astana, Kazakhstan; Author. [Google Scholar]
  25. OECD. (2007). Higher education in Kazakhstan. Paris, France: Author. [Google Scholar]
  26. Ritzo, C. & Nam, C. & Bruce, B. (2009). Building a Strong Web: Connecting Information Spaces in Schools and Communities. Library Trends, 58, 82-94. doi: 10.1353/lib.0.0068 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  27. Silova, I., Johnson, M.S., & Heyneman, S.P. (2007). Education and the crisis of social cohesion in Azerbaijan and Central Asia. Comparative Education Review, 51, 159- 180. [Google Scholar]
  28. VERBI GmbH. (2011). MAXQDA [Software]. Available from http://www.maxqda.com/ World Bank. (2012). World Bank—Kazakhstan: Partnership program snapshot. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/content/dam/Worldbank/document/Kazakhstan- Snapshot.pdf [Google Scholar]
  29. World Health Organization. (2007). Kazakhstan: Facts and figures. Geneva, Switzerland: Author. Retrieved from http://www.euro.who.int/en/where-we-work/member- states/kazakhstan/facts-and-figures [Google Scholar]
  30. Wood, D., Bruner, J.S., & Ross, G. (1976). The role of tutoring in problem solving. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17, 89-100. [Google Scholar]