Ulana Pidzamecky
Toronto, Ontario Canada
1-416-553-3311 (mobile)
ulana.pidzamecky@ontariotechu.net
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1691-5486
Research title: Languishing or flourishing? Exploring Ukrainian elementary school teacher understandings of their professional experience.
Research Summary
Research title:
Languishing or flourishing? Exploring Ukrainian elementary school teacher understandings of their professional experience
Purpose of study
This doctoral investigation seeks to investigate Ukrainian elementary school teacher perceptions of professional flourishing within their current educational environment. The research question for this study is: What does it mean to flourish professionally for Ukrainian elementary school teachers? In connection with this, I also hope to gain insights into the relationship between professional and personal flourishing: how has this relationship evolved? What evidence, if any, is there of the merger or separation of these constituents of teacher experience? I will also solicit teacher opinions about the relationship between professional flourishing and continuous professional development, as well as teachers' views about a preferred educational future for the evolving democracy of Ukraine.
Participants
This study will involve twelve to twenty elementary school teachers from different regions of Ukraine, male and female, of varying lengths of professional service.
Nature of participation
To address the research question given above, this study will involve two visually based data collection techniques, namely the ‘River of Experience’ and autophotography (photo elicitation). Participants will be asked to produce one 'River of Experience' and AT LEAST one personally relevant photograph related to the research question, which may be presented separately or as a component of their 'river'. Participants will be asked to join one focus group facilitated by me, the principal investigator, lasting approximately one and a half hours, followed approximately three weeks later by one semi-structured individual interview (lasting approximately one hour).
