StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Improvements in the Quality of Higher Education - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
The paper "Improvements in the Quality of Higher Education" states that symbolic interactionism theory does not focus on analyzing the structure or conflicts in a given educational institution but only with regard to how each of the stakeholders is trying to meet their life conditions…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.4% of users find it useful
Improvements in the Quality of Higher Education
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Improvements in the Quality of Higher Education"

? Sociology - Significance of Functionalist, Conflict and Interactionism Theories in Teacher Relationship - Number Course Name and Number Name of Professor Date of Submission Number of Words: 1,006 Introduction Improvements in the quality of higher education serve as a stepping stone towards a better economic and political advancement in the United States. With this in mind, the process of strengthening the relationship between teachers and students is crucial to further enhance the quality of education within higher education in colleges and universities. As part of improving the educational quality in the United States, a lot of sociologists have been exploring the significance of functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionism theories when exploring strategies ways on how to improve relationship between the teachers and fellow students. As part of promoting public awareness with regards to the relationship between the teachers and students, this study will purposely explore and apply the concept of functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionism to real-case scenarios. To enable the readers have a better idea concerning this topic, the basic concept of functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionism theories will first be provided followed by providing real-case examples using the said theory. Basic Concept of Functionalist, Conflict and Symbolic Interactionism Theories and Its Application in the Field of Higher Education Functionalist Theory Functionalism view education as a part of the “societal needs for socialization and training” (Andersen & Taylor, 2011, p. 348). It means that in the absence of educational institutions like colleges and universities, functionalists explain that it would be very difficult to instill knowledge and necessary values among each member of a given society. Considering the main function of educational institutions within our society, the main function of teachers within higher educational system is to serve as an individual who is responsible in systematically transmitting their knowledge, skills, and cultural values to the students within a formally organized institutional structure (Kendall, 2010, p. 417). It means that by going through the process of transferring knowledge, skills and cultural values to the students, higher education teachers are indirectly keeping young and unemployed individuals off the streets (Stephens & Leach, 1998, p. 203). In general, each of the school teacher(s) have different set of multiple roles which they need to satisfy on a daily basis. Because of their unique function within an educational institution, functionalists may sometimes conclude that the presence of certain school policies and institutions can be dysfunctional for most of the teachers within a given educational institution. As explained by Appelrouth and Edles (2008, p. 386), the occurrence of dysfunctionality is possible because “they are functional for a more powerful social group or the social system itself”. Functionalists strongly suggest that the main function of higher education teachers is to provide better occupational opportunities for the unemployed students in the long-run. Upon analyzing the functionalist theory of education, it is the students who function as the receiver of the transferred knowledge, skills and cultural values from the school teachers. However, this theory is not applicable when it comes to analyzing the relationship between teachers and students in higher education. Conflict Theory Conflict theory view education as something that “reflects other inequalities within a given society” (Andersen & Taylor, 2011, p. 348). Because of the presence of racial, class and gender discrimination, not all students are able to receive equal rights to education. Furthermore, conflict perspective in higher education also suggest that the process of tracking down teachers’ ability to deliver good quality teaching based on the prescribed school curriculum also contributes to the development of conflict relationship among the teachers (Kendall, 2010, p. 417). With this in mind, teachers who feel less important may end up having more emotional and psychological issues when building relationship with the students. In general, conflict theorists are criticizing functionalist theorists for having a strong idealization of what an educational institution should be like within a given society (Edles & Appelrouth, 2011, p. 21). Conflict theory in higher education strongly suggest the idea that teachers in educational institutions are facing conflicts related to power struggling among the professionals within the hierarchical educational institutions. Conflict theory focuses on identifying potential conflicts (or gap) between the teachers and students in higher education (Appelrouth & Edles, 2008, p. 355). As compared to functionalist theory, conflict theory is indirectly applicable when trying to examine the relationship between teachers and students in higher education. For example: Sociologists can use conflict theory to identify specific personality needs of higher education teachers which could allow them to establish a stronger relationship with the students. Symbolic Interaction Theory Based on symbolic interaction theory, social interaction between teachers and students within an educational institution is possible and necessary when it comes to individual and group successes (Andersen & Taylor, 2011, p. 348). As compared to functionalist theory, symbolic interaction theory view human beings within a given society as something that is “not an established structure but as individuals who are trying to meet their life conditions and expectations” (Edles & Appelrouth, 2011, p. 181). Based on the core perspectives in contemporary sociological theory, the concept of a structural functionalism is more on the non-rational collective side whereas the orientation of symbolic interaction theory is more on non-rational and individualistic side (Edles & Appelrouth, 2011, p. 18). Considering the fact that symbolic interaction theory heavily relies on the actions made by the school teachers and students, this particular theory can be more effective and applicable in terms of analyzing how the relationship between the school teachers and students in higher education work. For example: Using Blumer’s symbolic interaction theory, sociologists can easily identify and interpret the attitude and behaviors of each higher education teachers and students in order to determine teacher-and-students’ relationship within an educational institution. Conclusion As compared to functionalist and conflict theories, symbolic interactionism theory is the best applicable theory when it comes to analyzing the relationship between teachers and students in higher education. Unlike the functionalist and conflict theories in sociology, symbolic interactionism theory does not focus on analyzing the structure or functionality or conflicts in a given educational institution but only with regards to how each of the stakeholders who are trying to meet their life conditions and expectations as human beings. *** End *** References Andersen, M., & Taylor, H., 2011. Sociology: The Essentials. 6th Edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Appelrouth, S., & Edles, L., 2008. Classical and contemporary sociological theory: text and readings. Pine Forge Press. Edles, L., & Appelrouth, S., 2011. Sociological Theory in the Contemporary Era: Text and Readings. Pine Forge Press. Kendall, D., 2010. Sociology in Our Times: The Essentials. 8th Edition. CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Stephens, P., & Leach, A., 1998. Think Sociology. Stanley Thornes (Publishers) Ltd. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Higher Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/education/1431897-higher-education
(Higher Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/education/1431897-higher-education.
“Higher Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/education/1431897-higher-education.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Improvements in the Quality of Higher Education

TQM in Higher Education

However, some researchers have suggested a change in the education process by eliminating non-productive activities and hence improve the quality of higher education.... This paper analyzes some articles which are connected with higher education.... According to Andrea Luxton, all aspects related to quality in higher education can be divided into Quality Management and Quality Improvement.... Lozier and Teeter (1993) were among the first researchers to focus on application of TQM to higher education....
11 Pages (2750 words) Literature review

Quality Assurance of Non-Formal Education: Practice or Theory

Yet the quality of Non-Formal Education in the youth field is a topic that has been hardly researched, despite the presumed substantial impact it has on our societies and young learners.... The challenge for the quality of non-formal education is that most models are developed from either an industry perspective (Poole 2010) or a formal education perspective (UNESCO, 2005).... The results show that while the policy documents follow both humanist and economist viewpoints in the QA framework, wherefrom the economist viewpoint, there is the usage of quite a several measurable quality indicators, the framework predominantly fits in a humanist theoretical stance on quality of education since the policy documents are strongly grounded in the wholesome development of the learner that surpasses academic attainment alone....
31 Pages (7750 words) Research Paper

Analysis and Comprehensive View of the Quality and Effectiveness of Preschool Education

However, this paper will concentrate on describing the issue of quality of Early Childhood Education.... A better quality of 'early education and child care can help to improve the health of children and also encourage their improvement and academic growth.... The paper "Analysis and Comprehensive View of the quality and Effectiveness of Preschool Education" concentrates on describing the issue of quality in relation to Early Childhood Education....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Role of the student in higher education

These institutions provide social and community incorporated education and hence reinforces the relevance of higher education towards national development.... ROLE OF THE STUDENT IN higher education By Institution 2nd, November 2013 Role of the Student in higher education The higher education is an important tool in the twenty first century.... As a result, many of the countries have been encouraging higher education accessibility and enrolment as a means of achieving the millennium development goals....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Performance Management in Education

he problems of British education are not due to lack of resources.... Due to recent spending increases, Britain now spends more on education than the European average.... ather than the lack of resources, the reason for poor performance lies in the structure of the education system.... esearch (Oct,2005) done by the independent think tank Reform shows that radical education reform, based on allowing parents to choose either state or independent schools at the taxpayers' expense, is supported by a half of all voters and would create thousands of new schools....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

Continuous Quality Improvement at Queen Mary Hospital

CQI is a technique through which managers can continuously improve the quality of services through the implementation of scientific processes and control the variation of work processes.... CQI strategies facilitate solving different issues associated with the quality of products or services and also the different processes which are associated with the same (Carman, et al.... The report "Continuous quality Improvement at Queen Mary Hospital" focuses on the critical multifaceted analysis of the issues of continuous quality improvement (CQI) at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH)....
20 Pages (5000 words) Report

Business Analysis for the Quality Assurance of the United Kingdoms Higher Education

It also ensures that the standard and quality of higher education in the UK are of sound.... There are numerous broad trends that have shown interest in the policies of quality assurance in higher education, these trends include, growth in the diverse educational offerings, making of higher education international, increase in the capacity higher education institutions can accommodate about distance learning, and provision of mass higher education.... he quality assurance agency for higher education (QAA) is a sovereign agency in the UK, which was established with the main agenda of improving the quality and standards of higher education in the UK....
21 Pages (5250 words) Coursework

Quality of School Education

The paper "quality of School Education" explains that education has become one of the most important socially structured concepts.... The current scenario considers fulfilling several social responsibilities of which health and education are the most important.... t has been observed that various factors are considered important while analyzing the system of education.... Of all the factors that are considered, quality is one with the greatest significance....
16 Pages (4000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us