The Evolution and Professionalization of Social Education
Topic 3: General and Specific Functions of Social Education
General Functions (Analysis, Design, Implementation, and Evaluation)
Specific Functions:
- Analysis (Research, Exploration, Diagnostics, Monitoring)
- Design (Planning)
- Organization (Administration, Management, Direction, Design, Innovation)
- Development (Development, Organization, Guidance, Counseling, Education, Instruction, Training)
People Profile
Educational Institutions: Teaching, Orientation, Direction, Coordination, Design, Production, Development, Advising, Participating, Investing
Other Educational Contexts (Companies, Publishers, IT, Health, Media): Publishing, Management, Direct Service, Social Service, Socio-Community Service
Key Concepts
- Núñez V: Serves, produces inclusive effects
- Petrus: Necessary, acquired consistent character
- Is: Dynamic, change agent
Positions
(e.g., Teacher, Trainer, Facilitator, Coordinator, Developer, Evaluator)
Intervention Areas and Objectives
- Prevent difficulties
- Compensate
- Promote autonomy
- Develop activities
- Enhance information search
- Develop critical awareness
- Encourage participation
- Promote improved competence
- Promote change and transformation
Social and Educational Intervention Duties
PS (Pedagogical Social): Educational reform, promotion, development, teacher
ES (Educational Social): Educational reform, promotion, development, tutor
Guidelines
PS: Vocational guidance, community relations mediator
ES: Guidance counselor, social information, community relations mediator
Analytical
PS: Diagnostics, investigation, innovation, intervention, personnel selection
ES: Problem detection, investigation, planning
Evaluation
PS: Intervention design, planning, global evaluation, monitoring
ES: Same as PS
Organizational
PS: Administrative management, intervention direction, professional coordination
ES: Coordination of professional action
Special Features
PS: Diagnostics, monitoring, pedagogical development, coordination, orientation, information, technical support
ES: Counseling, advising, problem resolution, training, monitoring
Topic 4: The Concept of Professionalization
Key Aspects
- Complexity
- Consolidation
- Perkin’s occupational groups
- Obtaining recognition and legitimacy
- Professionalization transforming occupations into professions
- Promoting a professional ideal
- Professional practices related to functional training
- Generating a value creation culture
Definition
Hannes Siegrist: Professionalization is associated with:
- Occupation to profession process
- “University” influence
- Ranking professions
- Social status differentiation
- Partnerships
- Cultivating a professional culture
Key Players
University: Academic institution, resources for training, ethnographic research, participatory action research
Research in Social Education: Complexity, related practices, change-oriented, reflection on practice, critical engagement, content creation, utility
Accreditation as a Resource
Balancing a humanistic model of professionalism
Targets
- Train professionals
- Develop learning to learn skills
- Foster participatory citizenship
- Promote and disseminate culture
- Strengthen values
Professionalization Process
Challenges
- Mass education
- Degree specialization
- Quality control in institutions
- New demands
- New challenges for graduate teachers
Role of the State
Regulatory instrument fostering career advancement in professions. Classic stages, critical stage depends on support, independence, autonomy, status of professions.
Welfare State
Organized form of advanced capitalist societies. Public sector as an important regulator and provider. Models: liberal, conservative, social democrat.
From Welfare State to Social Justice
Equal opportunities and rights. Social policy as an instrument for states to ensure welfare needs. Social services as a concretization of social policies. Models: chaos, social work focused on the group, community action.
Market
Operations exchange, goods and services. Unemployment, social exclusion, work and employment. Trade and self-governance against domestic interests.
Professional Functions
- Promote professional social recognition
- Advocacy for professional associations
- Promote compliance with professional responsibilities
- Develop ethical standards
Topic 2: Demarcation Criteria
Meanings
- Social education as a type of social practice
- Profession
- University degree
Precursors
- Democracy
- Early initiatives
- Historical traditions
Historical Traditions
Social Education in the US: Democracy, collective ideas, social workers, child and youth groups, training structures. Intervention at the community level.
Adult Education: Associated with transformations, proper place in education, democratic period, two types: school initiatives and popular experiences.
Sociocultural Animation: Specific performance methodology, consolidation in the 70s and 80s.
Emergence as a Profession
- 1972: First attempts at formalization and association
- Influences from the US
- Challenge of continuous training
- 1987: US State Capitol
- CEAEAEE (Catalonian Association)
- 1990: APEEC
- 1994: APESCO
- 1991: Official degree
- 1998: Professional associations
Social Education Degree
Fundamental need. Undergraduate pillars: adult education, job training, education for marginalized groups.