Women are returning to study as mature age students in increasing numbers. Typically, these women have been away from study for a number of years and, in order to gain entrance into a university course most women are required to undertake a bridging program. Bridging programs can provide women with an alternative pathway into university and are designed to develop the academic and study skills required to successfully undertake undergraduate studies. The Women into Science and Technology (WIST) bridging program, offered by Central Queensland University, is a self-paced bridging program which provides a low cost, study at home option specifically designed to accommodate women’s needs. This research focuses on the perceived needs of women who are enrolled in the WIST program. To this end a survey instrument has been developed to identify the needs and challenges of women undertaking the WIST program. This instrument was used to explore the needs and challenges of women enrolled in the WIST program. The survey results revealed that women have a range of needs which include support from the university, development of study and academic skills, personal qualities such as motivation and determination as well as support from their family and personal networks. The results indicate that the university needs to provide a range of support mechanisms and processes. These outcomes were used to develop the Get SET for Study framework that can be used for the planning and design of bridging courses similar to WIST for women who are considering enrolling in university.

<p>Entrepreneurship has been entered on a supranational political agenda, in the EU and the OECD, and been emphatically described as a fundamental skill and a concern for schools and education. The agenda is reflected to a varying extent at the national and regional political levels. My aim is to describe, analyze and gain knowledge of what entrepreneurship in the Swedish upper secondary schools imply in practice, against the background of a local context. In particular, the conditions for learning.</p><p>My approach is ethnographically inspired and this multiple case study is limited to two upper secondary school programmes. Data has been collected through observations, video recordings, informal conversations with pupils and teachers and formal conversations with headmasters. The material is analyzed in terms of three socioculturally inspiring foci.</p><p>By means of a cultural-institutional focus, the stability and changeability of the programmes were elucidated. The previous institutional frameworks have been partially questioned by the teachers in the field, which has resulted in the following: In one of the upper secondary schools a new locally adapted programme has been composed, and courses and subjects have been integrated in a new way in the other school’s existing programme. The changes in the upper secondary programmes are to a great extent an example of a meeting between top-down and bottom-up initiatives. The changes of the institutional frameworks are connected to a discursive shift of the responsibility for pupils’ learning and education from teachers to pupils and also to teacher’s ambition to adapt interest- and experience-related teaching.</p><p>In a situated focus, both programmes were identified as communities of practice with a joint enterprise, mutual engagement and a shared repertoire. These three dimensions were useful for examining specific aspects of the teaching. There has above all been an altered balance between reification and participation in the teaching as well as boundary crossing both outside the community of practice and within the community.</p><p>Different conditions for learning were identified through an interpersonal focus. Both collaborative learning and cooperative learning were useful, but not sufficient concepts for describing the various forms of team learning. The conditions of cooperation and the pupils’ communication patterns revealed yet another form of team learning, which I call comparative learning. If the risk of everyday concepts getting the upper hand and trivialization can be avoided in team learning, there is in all these learning processes a potential for the pupils being able to develop strategies for handling complex tasks, taking initiatives and responsibility, cooperating and learning from one another in various different ways. In this way entrepreneurship has had an impact on the practice of the classrooms.</p> / <p>Entreprenörskap har förts upp på en överstatlig politisk agenda, inom EU och OECD, där den skrivits fram som en grundläggande färdighet och en angelägenhet för skola och utbildning. Agendan återspeglas i varierande grad på nationell och regional politisk nivå. Mitt syfte har varit att studera och försöka förstå vad entreprenörskap i den svenska gymnasieskolan kan innebära i praktiken. Utifrån syftet och ett sociokulturellt perspektiv formulerades frågeställningarna enligt följande: Hur framförhandlas, organiseras och realiseras undervisningen inom två studerade gymnasieprogram? Vilka sociala gemenskaper bidrar elever och lärare till och deltar i? Vilka former av lärande visar sig? Den etnografiskt inspirerade studien genomfördes i två gymnasieprogram som genom utvecklingsprojekt deltagit i det länsövergripande och EU-medfinansierade projektet PRIO 1, Prioritet företagsamhet i Västerbotten (2000 – 2005). Empiriska data insamlades genom observationer, videoregistreringar, informella samtal med elever och lärare och formella samtal med skolledare. Dessutom insamlades skriftliga dokument. Materialet har analyserats utifrån tre fokus. Genom ett kulturellt-insitutionellt fokus har programmens stabilitet och föränderlighet synliggjorts. I det ena fallet har ett nytt lokalutformat program satts samman, i det andra fallet har kurser och ämnen integrerats inom det befintliga programmet. Förändringarna ses som ett möte mellan top-down-initiativ och bottom-upp- initiativ. Resultatet visar även en diskursiv förskjutning av ansvar från lärare till elev och lärares strävan att tillrättalägg intresse- och erfarenhetsrelaterad undervisning. Ur ett situerat fokus har båda programmen identifierats som praxisgemenskaper med en gemensam uppgift, ett ömsesidigt engagemang och en gemensam repertoar. Utmärkande drag i undervisningen, men koppling till entreprenörskapstanken, har handlat om förändrade avvägningar mellan reifikation och deltagande i undervisningen samt om gränsöverskridande, dels utanför praxisgemenskapen och dels inom gemenskapen. Genom ett interpersonellt fokus har olika villkor för lärande identifierats. Såväl kollaborativt och kooperativt lärande har varit användbara begrepp för att beskriva formerna för samarbetslärande, men inte tillräckliga. Samarbetets villkor och elevers kommunikationsmönster har avslöjat ytterligare en form av samarbetslärande, vilken jag benämnt komparativt lärande. Denna avhandling har således visat på både gemensamma och särskiljande drag när entreprenörskapsinitiativ omsatts i skolans praktik, på två gymnasieprogram.</p>

Lo scopo del presente lavoro e' mostrare i principali risultati ottenuti da una ricerca su un contesto organizzativo specifico considerato un sistema sociale di apprendimento. l'argomento e' stato sviluppato all'interno del framework concettuale sull'apprendimento situato e sulle comunità di pratica. la ricerca ha riguardato un network di banche, il credito cooperativo trentino, localizzato in trentino alto Adige. Attraverso un approccio qualitativo, sono state rilevate le principali pratiche manageriali e formative promettenti per lo sviluppo di comunità di pratica. La tesi sottolinea le implicazioni metodologiche e il dispositivo metodologico attraverso cui è stato possibile intercettare la conoscenza in azione e la connessione tra organizzare, conoscere e apprendere. / The aim of this thesis is to present the main results obtained from research into a specific organizational context that can be seen as a learning social system. This matter has developed from a theoretical framework of situated learning and communities of practice. The research concerned a network of banks, mainly that of the Credito Cooperativo Trentino (CCT), located in Trentino Alto Adige, one of Italy's northern regions. using a qualitative approach, it has been possible to point out the most relevant training and managerial practices that encourage the development of CoP. The thesis highlights the methodological implications and the qualitative devices by which it has been possible to intercept knowledge in action and the connection between organizing, knowing and learning.

This qualitative case study explored the nature of the relationships between Local (English) Teachers (LTs) and Foreign (English) Teachers (FTs) who worked at the same English institute of a foreign studies university in south-eastern China. Employing the community of practice framework, this research drew insights from a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. The findings revealed that the teachers seldom interacted and, furthermore, were influenced by broader social structures that were not considered in the framework. Accordingly, the theory was extended to include other perspectives, such as native and non-native English speaking teacher issues and the Chinese concept of face, in order to determine the underlying reasons that inhibited their interaction. Notwithstanding these challenges, three cases of FT-LT collaboration were discovered, and the factors that enhanced their collaboration were analysed. The LT and FT participants provided suggestions to each other and the administrators on how collaboration could be improved in their institute.

Creativity is increasingly becoming both an important issue in our rapidly changing society, and a popular subject of research. Research findings are beginning to conceptualize creativity as a much more complex process and studies are now focusing on the effects of social interaction and collaborative efforts on creativity as well as the potential impact of technology on collaboration and the creative process itself. This study looks at the influence of both collaboration and technology on the creative process to develop a clearer picture of the way in which they intersect. Due to the complexity of this study, two theoretical frameworks (Communities of Practice and Genex Framework) have been employed to inform the development of the study and to assist in contextualizing the results. To this end, this mixed-methods study collected data both from fashion design students enrolled in the third year of a Bachelor of Fashion Design program, and from their faculty. Data gathering methods included personal semi-structured interviews with both students (n = 13) and faculty (n = 9) and an online questionnaire with a larger group of students (n = 65). The research questions that framed this study focus on developing an initial understanding of the creative process as experienced by these students and then exploring in depth the ways that collaboration and working in community affect the creative process, as well as the impact of technology in supporting both creativity and collaboration. Results suggest that technology was indeed a valuable support in the creative process through its ability to facilitate particular kinds of collaborative practices, including brainstorming, developing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving feedback. Such practices directly affected the creative process by enhancing the development of more professional sketches as well as facilitating the collaborative efforts of the members of the design community. Finally, the implications of these results for curriculum design and the appropriate choice of pedagogical approaches are discussed. The results presented will help to support curriculum designers and instructors who seek to encourage creative endeavour to focus on effective technological tools as well as strategies that promote collaboration and a sense of community in order to achieve these ends.

This qualitative case study explored the nature of the relationships between Local (English) Teachers (LTs) and Foreign (English) Teachers (FTs) who worked at the same English institute of a foreign studies university in south-eastern China. Employing the community of practice framework, this research drew insights from a questionnaire, interviews, and observations. The findings revealed that the teachers seldom interacted and, furthermore, were influenced by broader social structures that were not considered in the framework. Accordingly, the theory was extended to include other perspectives, such as native and non-native English speaking teacher issues and the Chinese concept of face, in order to determine the underlying reasons that inhibited their interaction. Notwithstanding these challenges, three cases of FT-LT collaboration were discovered, and the factors that enhanced their collaboration were analysed. The LT and FT participants provided suggestions to each other and the administrators on how collaboration could be improved in their institute.

Creativity is increasingly becoming both an important issue in our rapidly changing society, and a popular subject of research. Research findings are beginning to conceptualize creativity as a much more complex process and studies are now focusing on the effects of social interaction and collaborative efforts on creativity as well as the potential impact of technology on collaboration and the creative process itself. This study looks at the influence of both collaboration and technology on the creative process to develop a clearer picture of the way in which they intersect. Due to the complexity of this study, two theoretical frameworks (Communities of Practice and Genex Framework) have been employed to inform the development of the study and to assist in contextualizing the results. To this end, this mixed-methods study collected data both from fashion design students enrolled in the third year of a Bachelor of Fashion Design program, and from their faculty. Data gathering methods included personal semi-structured interviews with both students (n = 13) and faculty (n = 9) and an online questionnaire with a larger group of students (n = 65). The research questions that framed this study focus on developing an initial understanding of the creative process as experienced by these students and then exploring in depth the ways that collaboration and working in community affect the creative process, as well as the impact of technology in supporting both creativity and collaboration. Results suggest that technology was indeed a valuable support in the creative process through its ability to facilitate particular kinds of collaborative practices, including brainstorming, developing and sharing ideas, and giving and receiving feedback. Such practices directly affected the creative process by enhancing the development of more professional sketches as well as facilitating the collaborative efforts of the members of the design community. Finally, the implications of these results for curriculum design and the appropriate choice of pedagogical approaches are discussed. The results presented will help to support curriculum designers and instructors who seek to encourage creative endeavour to focus on effective technological tools as well as strategies that promote collaboration and a sense of community in order to achieve these ends.

The building information model (BIM) is assumed to encompass all the required parameters, rules and attributes about a design product and process for Architecture-Engineering-Construction (AEC) practitioners in a way that is comprehendible by all participants sharing the model and that communicates their needs and intentions. The socio-cognitive day-to-day interactions that occur in the workplace imply however that there are discrepancies between what is exchanged as design information when sharing a model and what is exchanged as goals, needs and possibly conflicting intentions and interests when sharing a common ill-structured problem. The findings of an ethnographic study are presented. The study investigates affordances and limitations in BIM-enabled practice regarding the communication of design intent among design teams in the context of an architectural project. Grounded theory coding was used as a basis for analytic induction through constant comparison and examination of data from field observation, interviews and design meetings, to identify emergent conceptual categories central to the research inquiry. A "thick description" was provided that took into account the dynamic interactions among teams, including interdisciplinary, intradisciplinary and non-disciplinary interaction. By dissecting hypothetical models of shared project information offered by BIM, the dissertation identified interfaces of information exchange, states of the BIM model as a boundary object, and emergent and overlapping communities of practice that delineate the degree of completeness and correctness of a BIM model and describe its effectiveness in capturing and conveying the intent of participants upon interaction. To draw parallels to other contexts, the assumptions central to the study were discussed in relation to a spectrum of possible scenarios within the larger population of AEC firms. In light of the findings and "persona" descriptions identified in the study, the dissertation examined and proposed amendments and richer descriptions to existing surveys and market reports that address the use and benefits of BIM in the AEC industry, including topics such as the internal business value of BIM, top ways to improve value of BIM, and impact of project factors on BIM value.

This dissertation examines the life stories of Marsha Ethridge (all names are pseudonyms), a teacher who has taught for 46 years in one urban elementary school. The stories Marsha tells about her life are used as lenses to consider the following: (1) What influences most shaped Marsha’s practices and stories to live by as a teacher? (2) What has it been like for Marsha teaching reading in an urban elementary school for 46 years? and (3) What is the nature of caring in Marsha’s stories? The study draws on life story and portraiture methods. Data were collected over a period of three years and includes life story interviews, one focus group interview, observations, and artifacts. Through the process of constant comparative method, three themes emerged: literacy and accountability, teacher development and identity, and caring and connecting. The most salient theme was caring and connecting throughout Marsha’s stories, and it served as a unifying thread to pull her stories together. This study found that in Marsha’s first years of teaching there were few forms of accountability. She felt that this was the primary reason many of her sixth graders had made it through school without learning to read. In the following years she used a variety of measures for accountability, including high-stakes accountability, which caused her to experience increasing professional dissonance. The form of accountability she believed improved her teaching practices the most was accountability situated in the context of caring relationships and it led to hope for future success. Marsha experienced this face-to-face accountability in the teacher-initiated group she had been meeting with for 27 years. Research implications from this study include the need to further explore discourse in teacher-initiated groups over time and in different contexts, as well as consider how the relational dynamics and accountability within collaborative teacher groups contribute to teacher growth. Additionally, the analysis of Marsha’s life stories indicate a need for teachers, parents, researchers, and policy makers to lay aside discourse of blaming and shaming to create opportunities for extended conversations about alternatives to high-stakes accountability. / text

Syfte - Syftet med studien är att bidra med förståelse av hur användare av aktivitetsarmbandoch tillhörande nätforum tillsammans konstruerar en lärmiljö och i så fall på vilka sätt dettakan erfaras hälsofrämjande.Teoretisk referensram - Den teoretiska referensramen tar upp de pedagogiska perspektivsom framträdde ur det empiriska materialet. Studien behandlar följande perspektiv: detsociokulturella perspektivet, Zone of proximal development, health literacy, Communities ofpractice och healthism.Metod - Studien har en livsvärldsfenomenologisk metodansats där datainsamlingengenomfördes genom två tillvägagångssätt. Författarna agerade studiesubjekt genom attanvända aktivitetsarmband och forum för att få tillgång till deltagarnas regionala livsvärld. Envirtuell grupp skapades på nätforumet Garmin connect där diskussioner fördes mellandeltagare och författare. Urvalet bestod av 8 personer från Sverige, Storbritannien, Brasilienoch USA.Resultat - Health literacy visade sig vara av vikt för att på ett optimalt sätt tillgodogöra sigaktivitetsarmbandets data. Lärandeprocesser skedde genom samspel och interaktion inätforumet. Hälsofrämjande effekter med armband och forum kunde urskiljas i form av högrefysisk aktivitetsnivå, motivation, inspiration och glädje. Potentiellt hälsoskadliga effekteridentifierades i överaktivitet och övertro på armbandet.Slutsats - Dagens selftracking-verktyg är ofta tekniskt avancerade men pedagogiskt mindregenomtänkta. Broar bör byggas mellan selftracking-verktygen och de pedagogiska processersom sker i användarna som brukar dem. / Aim - The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding in which users of activitytrackers and the connected netforum together construate a learning environment and if and inwhat ways this can be perceived as health promoting.Theoretical framework - The theoretical framework presents the pedagogical perspectiveswhich appeared in the empiric material. The study adresses the following theories andperspectives: the sociocutural perspective, Zone of proximal development, health literacy,Communitites of practice and healthism.Method - The study has a lifeworld phenomenological method. The data collection wascompleted in two different methods. The writers used the activity tracker and net forum togain access to the users life world. A virtual discussion group was created where particapantsand the writers discussed the activity tracker and net forum. Selection: 8 participants fromSweden, Great Britain, Brazil and USA.Result - Health literacy proved to be significant when interpreting the data from the activitytracker. Learning processes occured in the net forum through interaction. Health promotingfactors like increased physical activity level, motivation, inspiration and joy were found bothregarding activity tracker and netforum. Potentially harmful effects on health were found,hyperactivity and an over-reliance to the actvity tracker.Conclusion - Todays selftracking tools are often technically advanced but pedagogicallyinsufficient. Bridges should be built between selftracking tools and the pedagogical processeswhich occur within the individuals using these tools.