A tese investiga o ensino de arquitetura e urbanismo no Brasil, enfatizando a experimentação prática e as possíveis aplicações nos seus contextos locais. Apresenta como estas atividades têm sido desenvolvidas no curso de Arquitetura e Urbanismo da Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná (UTFPR), e como a história de 108 anos da instituição, ligadas ao ensino tecnológico, influenciam as bases pedagógicas do curso. Apresenta também uma proposta para melhoria da qualidade de vida nas universidades, aplicada à UTFPR. Examina doze novos cursos de Arquitetura e Urbanismo das Instituições Federais no Brasil, com o máximo de dez anos (2006-2016), apresentando a forma como estes cursos, integrados com as comunidades locais, vêm contribuindo para o ensino. Organiza duas descrições históricas, uma referente à evolução dos cursos no Brasil, culminando em uma base cadastral dos mesmos, a qual mostra uma análise pouco positiva referente às avaliações dos cursos. Outra, refere-se aos aspectos pedagógicos gerais e aplicados ao ensino de arquitetura e urbanismo, os quais apontam para novas formas de pedagogias mais abertas, e a importância do Canteiro Experimental como eixo estruturante nos cursos. Diante destas constatações, as quais indicam a necessidade da mudança de paradigmas no ensino superior no Brasil, são propostos conceitos norteadores que podem contribuir para novos caminhos em busca da excelência na formação profissional do arquiteto e urbanista. / The present thesis investigates how Archicture and Urban Planning is taught in Brasil, emphasizing the practical experimentation and possible applications in its local contexts. It presents how these activities have been developed in the Undergraduate course of Architecture and Urban Planning at Federal Technological University of Paraná (UTFPR) and how 108 years of history , together whit technological teaching, have influenced the pedagogical bases of the course. In addition, it presents a project to improve the quality of life in the universities, applied to UTFPR. It searches twelve new undergraduate programs of Architecture and Urban Planning at Federal Institutions in Brazil, ten-years old maximum (2006-2016), showing how these courses, integrated whit local comunnities, have been contributing to education. This research organizes two historical descriptions. One about the evolution of the courses in Brazil - that culminates in a data base that shows a not very positive analysis of those courses evaluation. Furthermore, it refers to the general pedagogical aspects and its application to the teaching of Architecture and Urban Planning, which point to new kinds of more open pegagogies, and the importance of the Experimental Construction as a structuring axis in the courses. Considering these findings, which indicate the need of a paradigm shift in higher education in Brazil, guiding concepts are proposed that may contribute to new paths in the search of excellence in the professional training of the Architect and Urban Planner.

What do the Honda Civic, the Mazda 626, and the Boeing 747 have in common? What about Weird Al's song Bob, the first name of Miley Cyrus' alter ego, and the 70s sensation Abba? What do all these things have in common? They all contain palindromes. While some people recognise a palindrome when they see one, fewer realise that a palindrome is a special case of a pattern and that these patterns are all around. Palindromes frequently occur in names, both of vehicles and people, and in music.

Effective ELL teaching and learning is profoundly influenced by the teachers' personal experiences and personalities (Farrell, 2016), their experience as language learners as well as language teachers (Farrell, 2007), and their beliefs about learning and teaching a second language (Farrell, 2015; Farrell & Ives, 2015). This study honored and examined in-depth the often-discounted stories/reflective narratives of our teachers. This paper reports a qualitative cases study that explores three veteran teachers' reflection on their personal and professional experiences with ELLs for self-discovery over years (Cirocki & Farrell, 2017) so that they can further reflect for their future actions with ELLs (Burns & Bulman, 2000; Farrell, 2007; Farrell & Vos, 2018). Data analysis revealed the teachers' different strengths and needs in working with ELLs. Four major dimensions (language, culture, culturally and linguistically sensitive pedagogy, and collaborative community) were identified as critical to effective teaching of ELLs and preparation of second language teachers.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Tesi doctoral, Universitat de Barcelona. Facultat de Formació del Professorat, 2012 / The present dissertation is concerned with the Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach as it is applied to Physical Education (PE). CLIL is a teaching approach which uses foreign language as a tool to enhance the subject learning process. The PE-in-CLIL programme is based on Coyle’s 4Cs framework (Coyle 2006, 2007 and Coyle, Hood and Marsh 2010). PE-in-CLIL should be understood as a holistic approach that utilises a basic, yet essential principle of learning; that is, we learn by doing. It is based on tasks wherein students are being pushed to go further and are given the support to do so (Gibbons 2009). It fosters content, language, cognition and cultural awareness. Although PE is a popular subject in CLIL, very little research has been published about it. The question of the research is: how does a Physical Education and Language Integrated programme significantly improve children’s oracy in their 5th primary year? Four aims are established. The first aim is to identify the features of Physical Education tasks that improve integrated learning. The second is to identify the specific teaching strategies that improve oral communication. The third is to check that meaningful improvements occur in both oral comprehension and oral interaction. Finally, the fourth aim of this study is to identify the Physical Education and English integrated tasks which appeal most to students. Action Research is used because it solves problems in a realistic way based on the correlation between teachers and professional academics. The PE-in-CLIL Action Research project tries to mesh the curriculum with the reality of school life. It changes the current state of things using systematic reflection. The praxis of the research involves theorizing about practical problems in particular situations and identifying which of these practical theories are widely applicable. PE-in-CLIL research methodology is composed of three Action Research cycles and three levels of analysis. The first level is carried out during the field-work research, and both the second and third levels are carried out after the research. Twenty-six fifth grade students in a primary school in Catalonia participate in the research. Four different tools are used for gathering data: teacher diaries, video recordings, analysis of documents and one motivational test. The findings were henceforth applied to different complementation and triangulation techniques. Finally, Action Research questions are answered, and teaching dilemmas that had emerged during the research are solved. The trustworthiness of this study is grounded in data collection and data analysis. This PE-in-CLIL research uses a wide range of strategies to achieve Guba’s (1985) criteria for evaluation of research in pursuit of a trustworthy qualitative study. The analysis reveals that many features of PE tasks that promote integrated learning are linked to balanced tasks. A task is said to be balanced when it has a measured equivalence amongst motor, communication and cognition skills. Tasks need to be balanced and efficient to improve integrated learning. They must meet five requirements: be motivating, include physical activity, foster oral interaction, develop thinking and be socially conducive. The study also shows that collaborative and cooperative strategies, combined with the leader technique, foster oracy in PE-in-CLIL. The results presented indicate that there are significant improvements in both oral comprehension and oral interaction. The most advantageous PE-in-CLIL activity involves a balanced task that incorporates language and movement without slowing down the pace of the activity. Drills with long explanations that reduce time allotted to physical activity are rejected. The dissertation also discusses the pedagogical implications of its final product: teaching dilemmas and improvements proposals. The analysis of the teaching dilemmas shows how two different tasks can be transformed into a new integrated, holistic, task which proves to be more beneficial than the sum of its parts. The improvement proposals are presented in three parts: those related to scaffolding, those related to teaching, and those related to PE-in-CLIL pedagogy. Finally, the limitations of the study are exposed and the implications for future research of both motor and language learning are detailed. / Aquesta tesi estudia l’aplicació de l’enfocament educatiu AICLE/CLIL a l’educació física. Els acrònims AICLE (Aprenentatge Integrat de Continguts i Llengua Estrangera) i CLIL (Content and language Integrated learning) fan referència a un enfocament educatiu que utilitza la llengua estrangera com llengua vehicular en el procés d’aprenentatge d’assignatures que tenen altres continguts més enllà dels puramente lingüístics. El programa d’educació física en CLIL està basat en el 4Cs framework (Coyle 2006, 2007 and Coyle, Hood and Marsh 2010). L’educació física en CLIL és un enfocament holístic que utilitza els principis d’aprendre fent per ensenyar continguts motrius a través d’una llengua estrangera i, al mateix temps, impulsar les habilitats cognitives i desenvolupar les relacions interpersonals i socials. Pel que fa a la recerca en CLIL, la major part dels estudis fan referència a aspectes lingüístics. S’han trobat molt poques recerques que vinculin l’educació física i l’enfocament CLIL. L’objecte d’estudi té a veure amb la resposta que dóna l’educació física a una demanda social i institucional de plena actualitat com és l’ensenyament-aprenentatge de la llengua estrangera. Es pretén comprovar com el programa integrat afavoreix la didàctica de l’educació física i com contribueix a la competència comunicativa en llengua anglesa. En aquest punt es formula la següent pregunta inicial de la recerca: Com pot un programa d’aprenentatge integrat de continguts d’educació física i llengua anglesa millorar significativament la capacitat comunicativa oral de l’alumnat del cicle superior de primària? Per donar resposta a la pregunta s’estableixen quatre objectius: 1/ Determinar les característiques de les tasques d’educació física que afavoreixen l’aprenentatge integrat. 2/ Identificar les estratègies didàctiques específiques del programa d’educació física en CLIL que milloren la comunicació oral (comprensió i expressió oral – listening and speaking). 3/ Comprovar que amb l’aplicació del programa d’educació física en CLIL es produeix una millora significativa en la comprensió i l’expressió oral en llengua anglesa. 4/ Identificar les tasques integrades d’educació física i llengua anglesa amb més interès per l’alumnat. S’ha escollit la investigació-acció com a mètode de recerca per tres raons. En primer lloc, perquè pot millorar l'aprenentatge i les pràctiques educatives. En segon lloc, perquè permet avançar en el coneixement i la teoria, és a dir, aportar noves idees sobre com les coses es poden fer i per què. Finalment, perquè permet al professorat ser investigador pràctic i desenvolupar la recerca en el propi centre educatiu. Concretament s’escull, i s’adapta, el model d’Elliot (1990, 1991, 2007) pel seu pragmatisme i perquè promou un procés que té lloc entre la teoria i els problemes de la seva aplicació a l’aula. La mostra és un grup natural de vint-i-sis estudiants de cinquè nivell de l’ensenyament primari d’una escola pública de Catalunya. La informació s’obté mitjançant els diaris (del professor-investigador i dels observadors externs) com instruments principals i l’enregistrament en vídeo, l’anàlisi documental a més del test de motivació AMPET com instruments complementaris. S’han utilitzat diferents estratègies per garantir el rigor científic de la recerca (Guba 1985). Entre d’altres es disposen de diversos diaris de contrast i un grup interdisciplinar d’experts. Aquests col•laboradors crítics i validadors han contrastat els enregistraments relatius a la millora de l’expressió oral i els Key Learning Moments corresponents a les tasques d’educació física en CLIL. L’anàlisi es desenvolupa en tres nivells. Un primer nivell que engloba tots els cicles d’investigació-acció. Un segon nivell que analitza, per separat, els resultats dels instruments utilitzats i un tercer nivell en el qual es determinen les coincidències i les discrepàncies entre els resultats dels diferents instruments mitjançant l’ús de tècniques de complementació i triangulació. L’anàlisi revela la relació entre tasques equilibrades i aprenentatge integrat. Les tasques d’educació física en CLIL han de ser equilibrades i eficients per assolir un aprenentatge integrat. Es defineixen cinc característiques que han de complir: ser motivants, incloure activitat física, facilitar la comunicació oral, desenvolupar les habilitats cognitives i ser socialitzadores. L’estudi també mostra que les estratègies d’aprenentatge cooperatiu combinades amb la tècnica del líder i els jocs motrius estimulen la interacció oral. Els resultats que es presenten mostren una millora significativa en la comprensió i l’expressió oral en llengua anglesa. Es destaca la importància d’incorporar el llenguatge a la tasca motriu sense alentir l’activitat. Les tasques que requereixen d’explicacions llargues que redueixen el temps destinat a l’activitat física són rebutjades. Finalment, es tracten les implicacions pedagògiques i millores per les dues assignatures (educació física i llengua anglesa), la importància del suport lingüístic (scaffolding), les limitacions de l’estudi i les noves possibilitats de recerca en els camps de l’aprenentatge motriu i lingüístic. / Esta tesis estudia la aplicación del enfoque educativo AICLE/CLIL en la educación física. Los acrónimos AICLE (Aprendizaje Integrado de Contenidos y Lengua Extranjera) y CLIL (Content and language Integrated learning) se refieren a un enfoque educativo que utiliza la lengua extranjera como lengua vehicular en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de asignaturas que tienen otros contenidos más allá de los puramente lingüísticos. El programa de educación física en CLIL está basado en el 4Cs framework (Coyle 2006, 2007 and Coyle, Hood and Marsh 2010). La educación física es un enfoque holístico que utiliza los principios del learning by doing para enseñar contenidos motrices mediante el uso de una lengua extranjera y, al mismo tiempo, impulsar las habilidades cognitivas y desarrollar las relaciones interpersonales y sociales. En referencia a la investigación en CLIL, la mayor parte de los estudios hacen referencia a aspectos lingüísticos. Se han hallado muy pocas investigaciones que relacionen la educación física y el enfoque educativo CLIL. El objeto del estudio está vinculado con la respuesta que la educación física da a una demanda social e institucional de plena actualidad como es la enseñanza-aprendizaje de la lengua extranjera. Se pretende comprobar cómo el programa integrado favorece la didáctica de la educación física y cómo contribuye a la competencia comunicativa en lengua inglesa. Se formula la siguiente pregunta inicial: cómo puede un programa de aprendizaje integrado de contenidos de educación física y lengua inglesa mejorar significativamente la capacidad comunicativa oral del alumnado del ciclo superior de primaria? Para dar respuesta a la pregunta se establecen cuatro objetivos: 1/ Determinar las características de las tareas de educación física que favorecen el aprendizaje integrado. 2/ Identificar las estrategias didácticas específicas del programa de educación física en CLIL que mejoran la comunicación oral (comprensión y expresión oral -listening and speaking). 3/ Comprobar que con la aplicación del programa de educación física en CLIL se produce una mejora significativa de la comprensión y la expresión oral en lengua inglesa. 4/ Identificar las tareas integradas de educación física y lengua inglesa que despiertan más interés en el alumnado. Se ha escogido la investigación-acción como método de investigación por tres razones. En primer lugar, porque puede mejorar el aprendizaje y las prácticas educativas. En segundo lugar, porque permite avanzar en el conocimiento y la teoría, es decir, aportar nuevas ideas sobre cómo las cosas se pueden realizar y por qué. Finalmente, porque permite al profesorado ser investigador práctico y desarrollar la investigación en el propio centro educativo. Concretamente se escoge, y se adapta, el modelo de Elliot (1990, 1991, 2007) por su pragmatismo y porque promueve un proceso que tiene lugar entre la teoría y los problemas de su aplicación en el aula. La muestra corresponde a un grupo natural de veintiséis estudiantes de quinto nivel de educación primaria de una escuela pública de Catalunya. La información se obtiene mediante los diarios (del profesor-investigador y de los observadores externos) como instrumentos principales y la grabación en vídeo, el análisis de documentos y el test de motivación AMPET como instrumentos complementarios. Se han utilizado diversas estrategias para garantizar el rigor científico de la investigación (Guba 1985). Entre otras, se disponen de diversos diarios de contraste y de un grupo interdisciplinar de expertos colaboradores críticos y validadores. Se han contrastado los registros relativos a la mejora de la expresión oral y los Key Learning Moments correspondientes a las tareas de educación física en CLIL. El análisis se desarrolla en tres niveles. El primer nivel abarca todos los ciclos de investigación-acción. En el segundo nivel se analizan, por separado, los resultados de los diferentes instrumentos utilizados y en el tercer nivel se determinan las coincidencias y discrepancias entre los resultados de los diferentes instrumentos usando técnicas de complementación y triangulación. El análisis revela la relación entre tareas equilibradas y aprendizaje integrado. Las tareas de educación física en CLIL han de ser equilibradas y eficientes para alcanzar un aprendizaje integrado. Se definen cinco características que han de cumplir: ser motivantes, incluir actividad física, facilitar la comunicación oral, desarrollar las habilidades cognitivas y ser socializadoras. El estudio también muestra que las estrategias de aprendizaje cooperativo combinadas con la técnica del líder y los juegos motrices estimulan la interacción oral. Los resultados que se presentan muestran una mejora significativa en la comprensión y la expresión oral en lengua inglesa. Se destaca la importancia de incorporar el lenguaje a la tarea motriz sin ralentizar la actividad. Las tareas que requieren de largar explicaciones que reducen el tiempo dedicado a la actividad física son rechazadas. Finalmente, se tratan las implicaciones pedagógicas y mejoras para las dos asignaturas (educación física y lengua inglesa), la importancia del soporte lingüístico (scaffolding), las limitaciones del estudio y las nuevas posibilidades de investigación en los campos del aprendizaje motor y lingüístico.

The aim of this study was fourfold. Firstly the nature of training for Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills had to be determined. Secondly, the outcomes for Life Skills training for Foundation Phase student teachers had to be ascertained. Thirdly, effective teaching-learning methods for training had to be identified to achieve outcomes in the most effective way. New methods of presentation and assessment had to be exploited to address the new challenge of reduced contact time. Lastly, the nature of Life Skills training at other higher teaching institutions in South Africa had to be determined so that general outcomes and guidelines for effective training of Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills could be established. A literature study was done to determine the nature of Life Skills for Foundation Phase student teachers. Four outcomes were identified were identified from this study, namely health promotion, promotion of the environment, development of human potential and the promotion of moral, cultural and religious values as main components of Life Skills. In addition a literature study was done on effective teaching-learning methods which should be applied to ensure effective Life Skills training for student teachers. The four most important components or essential features that should be considered during the facilitation of Life Skills for Foundation Phase student teachers, namely the lecturer, student, learning environment as well as the aim of teaching, including teaching content and assessment were set out. After questionnaires regarding the nature of training for Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills were sent to institutions for higher education and the responses were statistically analysed, it was possible to make a number of findings and recommendations. From the empirical research it became clear that the identified outcomes were also valued and applied by lecturers at other institutions for higher education. Furthermore, it became apparent that active teaching learning-methods and self-regulated learning are valued as important aspects of effective teacher training. Skills should not only be practised during contact sessions, but learning environments should be extended. It should include a variety of contexts like community service, practical teaching experience at schools under supervision of mentors as well exposure to diverse and multicultural teaching learning-environments. By effective planning and organising, it is possible for lecturers to guide students to become self regulated and effective learners within the context of reduced contact time. / Thesis (M. Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The aim of this study was fourfold. Firstly the nature of training for Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills had to be determined. Secondly, the outcomes for Life Skills training for Foundation Phase student teachers had to be ascertained. Thirdly, effective teaching-learning methods for training had to be identified to achieve outcomes in the most effective way. New methods of presentation and assessment had to be exploited to address the new challenge of reduced contact time. Lastly, the nature of Life Skills training at other higher teaching institutions in South Africa had to be determined so that general outcomes and guidelines for effective training of Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills could be established. A literature study was done to determine the nature of Life Skills for Foundation Phase student teachers. Four outcomes were identified were identified from this study, namely health promotion, promotion of the environment, development of human potential and the promotion of moral, cultural and religious values as main components of Life Skills. In addition a literature study was done on effective teaching-learning methods which should be applied to ensure effective Life Skills training for student teachers. The four most important components or essential features that should be considered during the facilitation of Life Skills for Foundation Phase student teachers, namely the lecturer, student, learning environment as well as the aim of teaching, including teaching content and assessment were set out. After questionnaires regarding the nature of training for Foundation Phase student teachers in Life Skills were sent to institutions for higher education and the responses were statistically analysed, it was possible to make a number of findings and recommendations. From the empirical research it became clear that the identified outcomes were also valued and applied by lecturers at other institutions for higher education. Furthermore, it became apparent that active teaching learning-methods and self-regulated learning are valued as important aspects of effective teacher training. Skills should not only be practised during contact sessions, but learning environments should be extended. It should include a variety of contexts like community service, practical teaching experience at schools under supervision of mentors as well exposure to diverse and multicultural teaching learning-environments. By effective planning and organising, it is possible for lecturers to guide students to become self regulated and effective learners within the context of reduced contact time. / Thesis (M. Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

The integration of ICT within the new Curriculum of the National Education Department of South Africa into Learning Areas is important for pre-service teacher training at university. The Learning Area Social Sciences (LASS) pre-service teachers are exposed to the integration of ICT and multimedia resources in teaching and learning. They can be trained to plan lessons that are more active and learner-centered and so slow the widening gap between South Africa and the developed world with respect to ICT integration and the use of multimedia resources in teaching and learning at schools. The interactive digital video disc (DVD) and portable DVD player is a cheap, accessible, and practical alternative that ensures the integration of ICT and a variety of multimedia resources, in teaching and learning within LASS. The purpose of this study within the LASS is to determine what type of multimedia resources can be used to the benefit of student learning; what the structure and format of the multimedia on the DVD should look like to achieve selected learning outcomes; and to determine how one can integrate ICT, specifically the DVD, into teaching and learning. A quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. Four intact groups were exposed to different experimental treatments/interventions and the four groups acted as their own controls. The control group always consisted of two groups. The participants included the total population of bona fide, full-time, first-year students taking the compulsory module in LASS as part of the BEd Intermediated and Senior phase Programme at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). They were exposed to class tests, a semester test and an examination as measuring instruments. The material developed for the intervention was two multimedia DVDs. The one contained predominantly text with audio (DVD 1) and the other contained still graphics, audio, text and video, etc. (DVD 2). Two DVDs were made for History and two for Geography, respectively, for each of the four interventions. The data was analysed by means of an ANCOVA. It compared the variances (s2) within and across the three groups (two separate experimental groups and two groups combined to form one control group), controlling for the covariate (ability measured by the pre-test). The results of the study found that the type of multimedia resources used to the benefit of LASS student learning within the disciplines of History and Geography include multimedia such as visual and moving images and text with educational content. The nature of History and Geography themes are factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding on the structure and format of the multimedia on the DVD to ensure that student learning within the LASS achieves the selected learning outcomes. It was also found that ICT, specifically the DVD, and multimedia can be integrated successfully in the teaching and learning of the LASS. The study found that the integration of DVDs and multimedia in the LASS can be applied at tertiary level in a developing country without placing participants at a disadvantage. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The integration of ICT within the new Curriculum of the National Education Department of South Africa into Learning Areas is important for pre-service teacher training at university. The Learning Area Social Sciences (LASS) pre-service teachers are exposed to the integration of ICT and multimedia resources in teaching and learning. They can be trained to plan lessons that are more active and learner-centered and so slow the widening gap between South Africa and the developed world with respect to ICT integration and the use of multimedia resources in teaching and learning at schools. The interactive digital video disc (DVD) and portable DVD player is a cheap, accessible, and practical alternative that ensures the integration of ICT and a variety of multimedia resources, in teaching and learning within LASS. The purpose of this study within the LASS is to determine what type of multimedia resources can be used to the benefit of student learning; what the structure and format of the multimedia on the DVD should look like to achieve selected learning outcomes; and to determine how one can integrate ICT, specifically the DVD, into teaching and learning. A quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. Four intact groups were exposed to different experimental treatments/interventions and the four groups acted as their own controls. The control group always consisted of two groups. The participants included the total population of bona fide, full-time, first-year students taking the compulsory module in LASS as part of the BEd Intermediated and Senior phase Programme at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). They were exposed to class tests, a semester test and an examination as measuring instruments. The material developed for the intervention was two multimedia DVDs. The one contained predominantly text with audio (DVD 1) and the other contained still graphics, audio, text and video, etc. (DVD 2). Two DVDs were made for History and two for Geography, respectively, for each of the four interventions. The data was analysed by means of an ANCOVA. It compared the variances (s2) within and across the three groups (two separate experimental groups and two groups combined to form one control group), controlling for the covariate (ability measured by the pre-test). The results of the study found that the type of multimedia resources used to the benefit of LASS student learning within the disciplines of History and Geography include multimedia such as visual and moving images and text with educational content. The nature of History and Geography themes are factors that need to be taken into consideration when deciding on the structure and format of the multimedia on the DVD to ensure that student learning within the LASS achieves the selected learning outcomes. It was also found that ICT, specifically the DVD, and multimedia can be integrated successfully in the teaching and learning of the LASS. The study found that the integration of DVDs and multimedia in the LASS can be applied at tertiary level in a developing country without placing participants at a disadvantage. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This thesis investigates how teachers from different disciplines understand and implement education for sustainable development in their teaching. A nationwide questionnaire study was conducted with 3229 upper secondary school teachers representing 224 schools in Sweden. The concept of sustainable development is complex and research has shown that teachers exhibit uncertainties in their understanding of it, and that the way they conceptualize sustainable development can have consequences for how they incorporate it into their teaching. Previous research has emphasized that Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) should promote interdisciplinary and holistic learning rather than traditional subject-based learning. This is in accordance with the Swedish curriculum, which emphasizes that all teachers in all subjects should integrate education for sustainable development. The teachers in the study were grouped into four disciplines; science-, social science-, language-, and vocational/esthetical-practical teachers.  The results showed that there were many subject-bound barriers to successful implementation of  ESD. Teachers were influenced by their subject tradition in: 1) how they understand sustainable development, 2) which teaching methods they use, 3) which barriers they experience, and 4) which teaching tradition they work within. Because of these differences it is important to adjust any further training of teachers according to their discipline. This study highlights the need for improved teacher education and further training of in-service teachers; more than 70% of the teachers stated that they need such training. It also highlights the issue how strong subject-bound traditions make it difficult to implement general goals of the curricula such as sustainable development.