PROFESSIONAL STUDIES: Theory And Practice

STUDENT VIEWS ON THE POPULARITY/PRESTIGE OF TEACHING JOBS

Natela Doghonadze — 2023-04-17

According to existing studies, the popularity of teaching jobs is decreasing. Considering the
significance of teaching, without which other professions cannot develop efficiently, it is important to
assess how acute the problem is and to try to offer some solutions to it. Another goal of the study
was to try to develop recommendations on how to raise teaching jobs’ reputation and thus contribute
to the improvement of the situation. The goal of the given study, which is a part of three surveys, was
to find out students’ views on the prestige of teaching jobs. The main question was ‘Is teaching
prestigious?’ An online survey applying a self-made questionnaire was held in Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Iraq, and USA with 657 respondents (122 + 362 + 102 +71, consequently). The conclusion was made
that the respondents’ attitude towards teachers in these countries is reasonably positive, however,
not many of them are planning to become teachers. It was recommended that to increase the prestige
of teaching jobs it is necessary, first of all, to raise the quality of teaching, as well as to stimulate book
and movie authors and mass media to present the profession to the public more often and positively.

DECISION-MAKING PECULIARITIES OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTIONS

Daiva Urniežienė — 2024-04-22

The peculiarities of decision-making by social workers in social care institutions are
analyzed in the article. It introduces how social workers cope with delicate and socially sensitive
situations according to the clients, of social care institutions, welfare. Ethical commitments and
empathy of social workers, personal indications of client’s needs and objectives, are emphasized
in the research. When a social worker is a team member and collaborates with other specialists,
the interdisciplinary aspect of decision-making is indicated in the article.

EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF TEACHER SOCIAL IDENTITY ON MOTIVATIONAL ENHANCEMENT

Tamari Gvelesiani — 2024-04-22

In the field of psychology, motivation is viewed as the process through which individuals prioritize incoming messages based on their needs and subsequently engage in behaviour accordingly. When exploring factors contributing to teachers' motivation, it becomes crucial to emphasize the role of teachers' social identity. Teachers with elevated social identity and group belonging levels often integrate didactic and innovative methods in their teaching practices, driven by their confidence in their abilities. These methods not only foster students' independence and autonomy but also enhance the learning environment.

As part of the study, 405 teachers from both private and public schools in five diverse cities across Georgia took part in the quantitative survey. The convenience sampling method was employed throughout the research process; therefore, the results cannot be generalized to the population of teachers in Georgia.

The study reveals that teachers perceive themselves and their colleagues similarly, indicating a strong collective identity within the teaching community, regardless of individual differences. Demographic factors such as teacher status, income, city, and education do not significantly affect this sense of belonging. Identified regulation emerges as the primary form of motivation among teachers, reflecting their perception of the importance of their profession. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between social identity and teacher motivation, suggesting that a stronger sense of belonging corresponds to higher motivation levels.