Education Commons^™

The Leap Model: Perceptions Of Emergency Service Leaders Of Legitimacy, R. Jeffery Maxfield, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

This study adds to the qualitative data showing how leaders in the emergency services perceive legitimacy and the bases of power. The study examines the perception of leaders and their perspective on why subordinates view their leader as legitimate and/or authentic. Two definitions of legitimacy are presented: the traditional viewpoint of French and Raven (1959) associating legitimate power “with having status or formal job authority” and the other proposed by Maxfield (2012) in the LEAP leadership model basing legitimacy or authenticity more on the characteristics and skills leaders bring to their positions. Emergency service students interviewed leaders in their career …

The Impressions Of Emergency Services Students In A Homeland Security Course: The Benefits Of Reflective Thinking And Journaling, Eric Russell, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

This case study explored the impressions a homeland security course had on the emergency service student. The setting for the study was a state-sponsored university in the western United States. The 17 participants were declared, undergraduate emergency services majors that underwent a 7.5-week distance learning homeland security course. Grounded theory was used to analyze and develop themes from student reflections from the class. The findings of the study suggested that the most important impressions students took from the class were about global awareness, an understanding of the vulnerabilities of terrorism to the nation and the importance of a homeland security …

Engaging Students In Disaster Relief Training Exercises

Dr. John R. Fisher

Emergency Service Leader Perceptions Of Legitimacy, John R. Fisher, R. Jeffery Maxfield

Dr. John R. Fisher

This study adds to the qualitative data showing how leaders in the emergency services perceive legitimacy and the bases of power. The study examines leader perception of the reasons their subordinates view their leadership as legitimate. Two definitions of legitimacy are presented: the traditional viewpoint of French and Raven (1959) associating legitimate power “with having status or formal job authority” and the other proposed by Maxfield (2012) in the LEAP leadership model basing legitimacy more on the characteristics leaders bring to their positions. Emergency service students interviewed leaders in their career fields, determining their view of legitimacy. They found that …

Employing Critical Reflection In An Online Emergency Services Course, R Maxfield, John Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

Non-traditional students in an online course in Homeland Security used the DEAL model of critical reflection to describe (a) what they learned, (b) how they learned it, (c)why it matters, and (d) what they will do with what they learned. Online discussion of readings proved to be the most effective learning technique used in the course because it incorporated reflective practices and allowed application of real-life experiences.

The Need For Fire Service Professional Development, R. Jeffery Maxfield, John R. Fisher

Dr. John R. Fisher

The importance of fire and emergency services professional development standards has never been more apparent than during the last few years. With the events of September 11, 2001, the need for improved leadership in the emergency services has become evident. The International Association of Fire Chiefs has introduced a professional development standards model, based on a definition of professional development, which is “the planned, progressive life-long process of education, training, self-development, and experience” (IAFC, 2003). Their standard recognizes that emergency response training activities are more prevalent in the early stages of a career and that organizational skills grow with a …

Native People And Systemic Bias In The Public Education System, John R. Fisher, Bayo Oludaja

Dr. John R. Fisher

Although systemic bias may not be racism, it is a form of prejudice. Systemic bias exists throughout society in the practices and attitudes that people face on a daily basis. Very often educational programs are set up to accommodate special needs, but, although well meaning, they incorporate this form of bias. Systemic bias inhibits student progress and often presupposes the need for cultural change. This paper reports a study of Canadian Native people and their experience with the public school system. Interviews were held with 19 students, 24 parents and community members, and nine faculty/administrators to assess how systemic bias …

Teaching Communication: Getting To The Heart Using Visuals As An Instructional Tool, John Fisher, Melody Hubbard

Dr. John R. Fisher

Students become much more engaged in movies than in most other visual aids because they find them entertaining and see greater applications in their own lives. However, the instructor’s goal in showing films is more than to entertain or fill time; it is to assist in learning. By increasing student involvement, higher levels of learning can be achieved. This paper applies a taxonomy of engagement suggested by Rößling and Naps (2002) to the teaching of communication. By engaging students, beyond viewing, in responding, changing, constructing and presenting, greater learning outcomes can be achieved.

Addressing Equity In Alberta, John R. Fisher, Moshe Elhav

Dr. John R. Fisher

This paper provides a historical review of equity in funding education in Alberta. It describes government attempts to address fiscal inequities and shows how the introduction of full funding in 1994 addressed many of the equity problems in Alberta. Horizontal equity has improved. However, the province needs to consider ways to improve vertical equity--the need for different amounts of funding to meet different needs--and other inequities affecting student achievement and access to knowledge.