Magister Educationis - MEd / South Africa had a change in government and in education after the 1994 elections. A new curriculum was introduced and some of the underlying critical outcomes were to develop the learners to become critical thinkers. The methodology by which to teach these outcomes was not clear. An intervention programme, Philosophy for Children (P4C) is used in some countries across the world to promote thinking. Research across the world has shown that this programme has the ability to enhance the cognitive abilities of learners exposed to it. Stories for Thinking (SFT) is an intervention programme based on the principles of Philosophy for Children and was introduced in some schools in an Education District of the Western Cape. This study investigates the perceptions of Intermediate Phase educators about the implementation of Stories for Thinking in this Education District. Educators were asked their strengths and challenges of the approach, their way of using it and the support they received. A qualitative research method was used and data were gathered to answer the research questions by means of questionnaires and interviews. Research findings indicate that educators perceived that Stories for Thinking was able to enhance the reading ability of the learners, it showed a significant improvement in their confidence levels, and a positive change in their general behaviour. Language was seen as a barrier to learning, but the evidence indicates that the community of inquiry can be used as a tool to overcome some of the barriers. It seems as if educators valued the support from the project leaders. It is concluded that this kind of intervention programme is worth introducing as long as all the role-players play their part and the setting is conducive. / South Africa

Using Learning Management Systems (LMSs) in educational environmentshas facilitated the communication between students and teachers, and raisednew challenges as well. The aim of this research is to investigate the role ofLMS in the learning and teaching processes from students and teachersperspectives. We adopted a social constructivist worldview. We used aninductive qualitative approach, a single case study design and hermeneuticalapproach for analyzing the interviews and observations. We used Garrison etal. (2000) community of inquiry framework as a theoretical guide for thestudy. The research took place at the School of Computer Science, Physicsand mathematics department at Linnaeus University, Växjö campus. Theparticipants of this research were students and teachers from two masterlevels within the program of Information Systems. The study results indicatedthat students and teachers were content with the usage of Blackboard inorganizing courses materials. Although, most teachers didn’t encourageinteractive and discussion activities on Blackboard, students expressed theneed for such activities to help them in constructing and building newmeanings.

No description available.

Inom byggsektorn spelar utbildning och kunskapsöverföring en betydande roll för att främja hållbarhet. Effekten av utbildningen beror på dess implementering och kontext. En noggrann utvärdering av utbildningens användning och effektivitet är avgörande för att optimera resultaten och tillhandahålla nödvändiga kunskaper och färdigheter för att hantera hållbarhetsutmaningar. Tyvärr kan bristande balans mellan miljömässiga, ekonomiska och sociala aspekter i hållbarhetsutbildningar begränsa individens möjligheter att effektivt hantera hållbarhetsfrågor i praktiken. För att framgångsrikt främja hållbarhet inom byggsektorn krävs en djupare förståelse av utbildningens genomförande och integration av kunskap i medarbetarnas arbete. Studien syftar till att undersöka hur en digital internutbildning inom hållbar utveckling på ett stort svenskt byggbolag kan utformas och genomföras för att skapa möjlighet till utvecklad yrkespraktik i byggbranschen. Med utgångspunkt i detta har en kvalitativ och kvantitativ datainsamlingsmetod implementerats för att behandla studiens frågeställningar. En tematiskanalys av studiens kvalitativa data resulterade i sammanlagt tolv teman efter att intervjuer med utvalda individer med olika befattningar på byggbolaget genomfördes. Resultaten visar att det finns brister med byggbolagets digitala hållbarhetsutbildning vilket bidrar till att medarbetarna inte får möjlighet att utveckla önskade kunskaper, förmågor och förhållningssätt för att uppnå utbildningens syfte och genomföra hållbara affärer. Ett antal centrala aspekter som påverkar utbildningens framgång och relevans för såväl medarbetarna som bolaget i helhet har identifierats, vilket ger värdefulla insikter för framtida utbildningsstrategier. Dessa aspekter är bland annat brist på social interaktion och gemensamtlärande, inaktuellt innehåll som dessutom inte har tydliga kopplingar till praktiskt hållbarhetsarbete samt brist på uppföljande moment. Detta resulterade i ett förbättringsförslag med parametrar som kan åtgärdas och implementeras inom utbildningen för att tillgodose byggbolagets behov, tillfredsställa medarbetares behov och uppnå hög kundnöjdhet. / In the construction sector, education and knowledge transfer play a significant role in promoting sustainability. The impact of the training depends on its implementation and context. A careful evaluation of the use and effectiveness of training is essential to optimize results and provide the necessary knowledge and skills to address sustainability challenges. Unfortunately, a lack of balance between environmental, economic and social aspects in sustainability education can limit the individual's opportunities to effectively deal with sustainability issues in practice. In order to successfully promote sustainability in the construction sector, a deeper understanding of the implementation of education and the integration of knowledge into the work of employees is required. The study aims to investigate how a digital internal training in sustainable development at a large Swedish construction company can be designed and implemented to create opportunities for developed professional practice in the construction industry. Based on this, a qualitative and quantitative data collection method has been implemented to address the study's questions, and various sources have also been used to conduct a literature study. A thematic analysis of the study's qualitative data resulted in a total of twelve themes after interviews with selected individuals with various positions at the construction company were conducted. The results show that there are shortcomings with the construction company's digital sustainability training, which contributes to the fact that the employees do not get the opportunity to develop the desired knowledge, abilities and attitudes in order to achieve the purpose of the training and accomplish sustainable business. A number of central aspects that influence the success and relevance of the training for both the employees and the company as a whole have been identified, which provides valuable insights for future training strategies. These aspects include a lack of social interaction where a community of inquiry is not promoted, outdated content that does not have clear connections to practical sustainability work and a lack of follow-up steps. This resulted in an improvement proposal with parameters that can be addressed and implemented within the training to meet the needs of the construction company, satisfy the needs of employees and achieve high customer satisfaction.

Recently, the numbers of Higher Education institutions that are using Web 2.0 technologies and social networking sites are increasing dramatically. These sites offer unique and diverse learning opportunities. There is evidence that a sense of community can be created online and that this community is connected with perceived learning. Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000) introduced and developed the Community of Inquiry framework as a dynamic process model and a comprehensive framework to guide the research and practice of online learning communities, and to describe and measure elements supporting the development of these communities. This framework consists of three elements - social, teaching and cognitive presence - as well as categories and indicators to define each presence and guide the coding of transcripts. The categories of social presence are affective responses, open communication and group cohesion. The categories of teaching presence are instructional design and organisation, facilitating discourse and direct instruction. Previous studies suggest that a positive social climate on an online learning community is important as it can improve learning experience and cognitive presence. This study aims to explore and understand the nature of Community of Inquiry presences, in particular teaching presence and social presence. The aim of the study is to understand the influence of a different teaching presence on students’ development of social presence. This study provides a more comprehensive picture of developing students’ social presence over changing teaching presence in a social network environment in a Kuwaiti higher education context. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, the following research questions are explored: 1- How does a students’ sense of social presence change with a different teaching presence in the social network environment within a Kuwaiti higher education context? a. Does a students’ sense of social presence (affective responses, open communication and group cohesion) change as a result of a different teaching presence (facilitating discourse - direct instruction) in the social network environment in a Kuwaiti higher education context? b. Why do participants maintain or change their social presence level during the course? 2- How does the use of teaching presence promote the development of students’ social presence in a Kuwaiti higher education context within the social network environment? The study was conducted in the second semester of 2010/2011 at The Education Technology Department - The College of Basic Education - The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), within the State of Kuwait. The study was carried out on the Educational Communication module and involved 46 male participants. This study uses the equivalent of mixed methods design to answer research questions. The sequential explanatory strategy is embedded within an applied quasi-experimental approach. Quantitative data is collected and analysed, which is then followed by the collection and analysis of qualitative data. The researcher used a messages analysis and a content analysis approach to reveal the level of social presence in an online community and then develop stimulated recall interview questions. A combination of individual interviews and focus group interviews were used. Garrison et al.’s (2000) social presence coding schemes were developed to make them more suitable in the study context. Quantitative and qualitative data show that there is no significant difference between the effects of facilitating discourse and direct instruction in terms of students’ social presence level. Stimulated recall interviews reveal that most participants cannot distinguish between facilitating discourse and direct instruction. The participants believe that facilitating discourse and direct instruction are similar. The participants’ responses lead the researcher to search for other motives that could promote the development of students’ social presence in the higher education context in the social network environment. The study concludes that there are two factors that could promote the development of students’ social presence. First, instructional design and organisation, such as web design satisfaction, network effect, instructor responsiveness, the nature of the task and awarding degrees. Second, learner-specific matters, such as previous experience, peer influence, friendship, attitude, self-esteem and self-confidence and something I refer to as the Wave Effect.

As novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação são recursos fundamentais para apoiar a formação profissional inicial e continuada de engenheiros e outros profissionais, quando se busca conhecimento significativo no interior de um contexto de aprendizagem colaborativa. Muitos fatores podem influenciar os resultados da aprendizagem a distância, em que o diálogo e a colaboração são necessários para a construção do conhecimento. Tendo em vista a relevância do tema, percebe-se na literatura da área a necessidade de estudos avaliando, de forma quantitativa, aspectos pessoais dos estudantes da modalidade de ensino on-line. A abordagem quantitativa complementa o estudo qualitativo como uma forma objetiva de análise baseada em mensurações facilmente coletadas pelo Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA). Assim, mostram-se importantes os estudos quantitativos, interdisciplinares e que identifiquem fatores que moderem e/ou ampliem a relação entre os componentes e os resultados do curso on-line. Este trabalho busca, usando metodologias quantitativas, determinar características pessoais do estudante de educação a distância (EAD), que impactam na sua percepção das presenças social, cognitiva e de ensino, e que podem ser desenvolvidas por ações educativas. Para tanto se propôs dois instrumentos de pesquisa cujos indicadores são: Gestão do Tempo, Habilidades de Comunicação e Proficiência Digital (Básica e Avançada). Esses instrumentos utilizam a metodologia de pesquisa survey, em sua modalidade on-line. A amostra global estudada é composta por estudantes universitários, professores do ensino fundamental e professores universitários, que, voluntariamente, responderam aos questionários (n = 663). Propõe-se também um modelo causal que relacione os indicadores com a percepção das presenças apontadas no paradigma da Comunidade de Inquirição (COI) e utiliza-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais (MEE) para analisar os dados e compreender as relações existentes. A construção do modelo estrutural foi realizada por meio de uma subamostra (n = 198). A análise dos resultados sugere que um aumento das habilidades individuais, por meio de capacitação prévia dos alunos, produzirá um impacto positivo sobre a percepção das características do AVA, refletindo nas percepções das presenças. Neste trabalho, o peso de regressão padronizado indica uma elevação de 0,49 desvio padrão na escala de Percepção da Comunidade de Inquirição, quando a escala da variável Características dos Estudantes se eleva em um desvio padrão, e ainda, que a Habilidade de Comunicação afeta positivamente a Presença Social (peso de regressão padronizado de 0,26). O mesmo ocorre com a Proficiência Digital Básica e a Presença Cognitiva (peso de regressão padronizado de 0,08). Assim, compreender como os indicadores afetam a percepção da estrutura proposta no AVA pode auxiliar os responsáveis pelos cursos no gerenciamento dos recursos disponíveis, bem como no oferecimento de treinamentos que visem desenvolver tais habilidades. Os instrumentos de pesquisa propostos neste trabalho possuem número reduzido de questões, estando disponíveis gratuitamente. Tais instrumentos viabilizam uma análise rápida, simplificada e eficaz das turmas, possibilitando configurações mais adequadas de cursos on-line, por meio de uma programação de atividades que visem contribuir efetivamente para a formação dos estudantes da turma analisada. / In a country with great need of skilled labor such as Brazil, the new information and communication technologies are key resources to support initial and continuing professional training of engineers and other professionals when seeking significant knowledge within a collaborative learning context. Many factors can influence the results of distance learning, where dialogue and cooperation are necessary for the construction of knowledge. Given the importance of the topic, it can be seen in the literature of the area, a lack of studies evaluating, quantitatively, personal aspects of the students of online learning mode. The quantitative approach complements the qualitative study, as an objective form of analysis based on measurements easily collected by Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). So, are important quantitative and interdisciplinary studies and to identify factors that moderate and / or expand the relationship between the components and the results of the online course. This paper seeks, using quantitative methodologies, determine personal characteristics of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) student, that impact on their perception of social, cognitive and teaching presences, and that can be developed by educational activities. Therefore it was proposed two instruments of research, whose indicators are: Time Management, Communication Skills and Digital Proficiency (Basic and Advanced). These instruments use the survey research methodology in its online mode. The sample is made up of university students, elementary school teachers and university professors, who willingly answered all questions (n = 663). It also proposes a causal model relating the indicators to the perception attendance pointed out in the paradigm of the Community of Inquiry. We use the Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the data and understand the relationships. The validation of the model was carried out a subsample (n = 198). The results suggest that an increase in individual skills through previous training of students, have a positive impact on the perception of the characteristics of virtual learning environment, reflecting the perceptions of attendance. In this work, the standardized regression weight indicates an increase of 0.49 standard deviation in Perception of the Community of Inquiry Scale when the scale of the variable Characteristics of Students increases by one standard deviation; and further that the Communication Skill positively affects the Social Presence (standardized regression weight of 0.26). The same happens with the Basic Digital Proficiency and Cognitive Presence (standardized regression weight of 0.08). Thus, understanding how the indicators affect the perception of the structure proposed in the Virtual Learning Environment can assist those responsible for courses in management of available resources, and to offer training designed to develop such skills. Research tools proposed in this work have few questions and are available for free. These tools make possible a quick, simplified and effective analysis of classes, and enable the most appropriate settings for online courses through the schedule of activities aimed at effectively contribute to the training of students of the analyzed class.

Social networks have become a phenomenon penetrating the lives of university students. Subject matter of the thesis is an insight into how much educational experience of distance learning students is affected by social network Facebook in informal learning and what impact this new technology has. A qualitative case study was carried out to understand the events, in context, by four research questions: (1) how are each online learning presences used in practice, (2) how does social network Facebook affect educational experience of students, (3) how do specific characteristics of social network Facebook affect the educational experience of students, (4) why is social network Facebook used in informal learning of students in distance education. This work has its roots in the revised framework of Community of Inquiry (CoI) having for dimensions  cognitive, social, teaching and learning  thus leading towards educational experience of students. We applied the social network analysis and content analysis to identify presences of online learning and their effects, also their specific social network Facebook characteristics and the key factors motivating students into using the platform. The conclusion is based on observation and in-depth questioning of six qualified study cases  students of distance learning reading Business and trading on the Internet subject, which is presented in the Faculty of Economy in University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice. The individual study cases were selected from the results of socio-metric research  critical, typical, and extreme case from a pool of large number of friends and a pool of strong students. The results show, that the presence of learning together with cognitive presence are the most significant kinds of online learning on social network Facebook. Specific social network Facebook characteristics were identified supporting the CoI framework by its social presence (opportunity to take up new identities, create relationships and form groups based on members' presence), teaching presence (opportunities to share in context of reputation the content) and cognitive presence (opportunity to have a conversation and share its content in context of reputation) leading towards learning presence and educational experience. Key factors motivating students into using social network Facebook for educational purposes had proven to be ubiquity, communication and cohesiveness. The results are interpreted based on theory and practice  for educators as well as ICT developers.

We commonly hear sentences labeling the virtual learning environment and all interaction which takes place on the web in a negative way. My experience in the virtual environment has made me feel differently. For me, it s a space where I meet people to learn together. This research has the objective to observe and analyze how participants of an online course live and feel the social presence and how different views of this concept can influence the teaching and the learning process. The research was developed throughout an online course moderated by me via the Federal University of Uberlândia offered to twenty English teachers from different areas in Brazil where three teacher-students were direct participants. The field texts were composed by diaries written by me during the moderation of the online course, messages exchanged between participants throughout the course, my autobiographical stories, posts written by participants on their individual e-portfolio, the recordings of our synchronous classes, e-mails exchanged by us during and after the online course and texts written by participants. The literature review brings studies on social presence (SHORT et al., 1976; GUNAWARDENA, 1995; WALTHER, 1996; GARRISON et al., 2000; TU, 2002; SWAN, 2003; LOWENTHAL, 2010), on interaction (HILLMAN, WILLIS; GUNAWARDENA, 1994; MOORE; KEARSLEY, 2005), on learning communities (WENGER, 1998; GARRISON, ANDERSON; ARCHER, 2000; GARRISON, 2006; WENGER; WHITE; SMITH, 2009) as well as on and the presence of teachers and students in the online learning environment (MASON, 1998; BERGE, 2000; MORGADO, 2001; SILVA, 2011). The theoretical-methodological path chosen was Narrative Inquiry (CONNELLY; CLANDININ, 2000; CONNELLY; CLANDININ, 2006; CLANDININ; ROSIEK, 2007; CONNELLY; CAINE, 2013; MELLO, 2005; MELLO, 2013). To compose meaning of our lived experience, I adopt the perspective of Ely, Vinz, Downing e Anzul (1997). Throughout the research, I could observe that each participant lived social presence in a unique way. As I see it, our convictions of what it means to be present in an online environment have shaped both the way we lived the experience, as well as how we choose to teach and learn online. I believe the results of this research can bring forth reflections and discussions about social presence and its role in online courses. / É comum ouvirmos frases que rotulam negativamente o ambiente virtual de aprendizagem e toda interação que ali ocorre. Entretanto, minha experiência nesse ambiente faz com que eu não perceba o ambiente virtual como frio e, sim, como um espaço onde encontro pessoas para aprender. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo observar e analisar como participantes de cursos online vivenciam a presença social e como as concepções desse conceito podem influenciar o processo de ensino e aprendizagem online. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida durante um curso de extensão online moderado por mim1 por meio da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia para vinte professores de Inglês de diferentes partes do Brasil, dos quais três foram participantes diretos. Os textos de campo foram compostos por diários de bordo escritos por mim durante a moderação do curso online, mensagens trocadas entre os participantes ao longo do curso, minhas narrativas autobiográficas, postagens escritas pelos participantes no portfólio virtual individual, as gravações de nossas aulas síncronas, e-mails trocados entre nós durante e após o curso online e relatos escritos pelas participantes. A revisão da literatura traz estudos sobre a presença social (SHORT et al., 1976; GUNAWARDENA, 1995; WALTHER, 1996; GARRISON et al., 2000; TU, 2002; SWAN, 2003; LOWENTHAL, 2010), sobre a interação (HILLMAN, WILLIS; GUNAWARDENA, 1994; MOORE; KEARSLEY, 2005), sobre comunidades de aprendizagem (WENGER, 1998; GARRISON, ANDERSON; ARCHER, 2000; GARRISON, 2006; WENGER; WHITE; SMITH, 2009) e sobre a presença do professor e do aluno no ensino online (MASON, 1998; BERGE, 2000; MORGADO, 2001; SILVA, 2011). O caminho teórico-metodológico escolhido foi o da pesquisa narrativa (CONNELLY; CLANDININ, 2000; CONNELLY; CLANDININ, 2006; CLANDININ; ROSIEK, 2007; CONNELLY; CAINE, 2013; MELLO, 2005; MELLO, 2013). Para a composição de sentidos da experiência vivida, utilizo a perspectiva de Ely, Vinz, Downing e Anzul (1997). Durante esta pesquisa, pude observar que cada participante vivenciou a presença social de maneira singular. A meu ver, nossas convicções do que é estar presente no ambiente online influenciaram tanto a maneira pela qual vivemos a experiência, quanto o modo de ensinar e de aprender nesse espaço. Acredito que os resultados dessa pesquisa poderão oportunizar reflexões e discussões sobre a presença social e sua importância em cursos online. / Mestre em Estudos Linguísticos

As novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação são recursos fundamentais para apoiar a formação profissional inicial e continuada de engenheiros e outros profissionais, quando se busca conhecimento significativo no interior de um contexto de aprendizagem colaborativa. Muitos fatores podem influenciar os resultados da aprendizagem a distância, em que o diálogo e a colaboração são necessários para a construção do conhecimento. Tendo em vista a relevância do tema, percebe-se na literatura da área a necessidade de estudos avaliando, de forma quantitativa, aspectos pessoais dos estudantes da modalidade de ensino on-line. A abordagem quantitativa complementa o estudo qualitativo como uma forma objetiva de análise baseada em mensurações facilmente coletadas pelo Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA). Assim, mostram-se importantes os estudos quantitativos, interdisciplinares e que identifiquem fatores que moderem e/ou ampliem a relação entre os componentes e os resultados do curso on-line. Este trabalho busca, usando metodologias quantitativas, determinar características pessoais do estudante de educação a distância (EAD), que impactam na sua percepção das presenças social, cognitiva e de ensino, e que podem ser desenvolvidas por ações educativas. Para tanto se propôs dois instrumentos de pesquisa cujos indicadores são: Gestão do Tempo, Habilidades de Comunicação e Proficiência Digital (Básica e Avançada). Esses instrumentos utilizam a metodologia de pesquisa survey, em sua modalidade on-line. A amostra global estudada é composta por estudantes universitários, professores do ensino fundamental e professores universitários, que, voluntariamente, responderam aos questionários (n = 663). Propõe-se também um modelo causal que relacione os indicadores com a percepção das presenças apontadas no paradigma da Comunidade de Inquirição (COI) e utiliza-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais (MEE) para analisar os dados e compreender as relações existentes. A construção do modelo estrutural foi realizada por meio de uma subamostra (n = 198). A análise dos resultados sugere que um aumento das habilidades individuais, por meio de capacitação prévia dos alunos, produzirá um impacto positivo sobre a percepção das características do AVA, refletindo nas percepções das presenças. Neste trabalho, o peso de regressão padronizado indica uma elevação de 0,49 desvio padrão na escala de Percepção da Comunidade de Inquirição, quando a escala da variável Características dos Estudantes se eleva em um desvio padrão, e ainda, que a Habilidade de Comunicação afeta positivamente a Presença Social (peso de regressão padronizado de 0,26). O mesmo ocorre com a Proficiência Digital Básica e a Presença Cognitiva (peso de regressão padronizado de 0,08). Assim, compreender como os indicadores afetam a percepção da estrutura proposta no AVA pode auxiliar os responsáveis pelos cursos no gerenciamento dos recursos disponíveis, bem como no oferecimento de treinamentos que visem desenvolver tais habilidades. Os instrumentos de pesquisa propostos neste trabalho possuem número reduzido de questões, estando disponíveis gratuitamente. Tais instrumentos viabilizam uma análise rápida, simplificada e eficaz das turmas, possibilitando configurações mais adequadas de cursos on-line, por meio de uma programação de atividades que visem contribuir efetivamente para a formação dos estudantes da turma analisada. / In a country with great need of skilled labor such as Brazil, the new information and communication technologies are key resources to support initial and continuing professional training of engineers and other professionals when seeking significant knowledge within a collaborative learning context. Many factors can influence the results of distance learning, where dialogue and cooperation are necessary for the construction of knowledge. Given the importance of the topic, it can be seen in the literature of the area, a lack of studies evaluating, quantitatively, personal aspects of the students of online learning mode. The quantitative approach complements the qualitative study, as an objective form of analysis based on measurements easily collected by Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). So, are important quantitative and interdisciplinary studies and to identify factors that moderate and / or expand the relationship between the components and the results of the online course. This paper seeks, using quantitative methodologies, determine personal characteristics of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) student, that impact on their perception of social, cognitive and teaching presences, and that can be developed by educational activities. Therefore it was proposed two instruments of research, whose indicators are: Time Management, Communication Skills and Digital Proficiency (Basic and Advanced). These instruments use the survey research methodology in its online mode. The sample is made up of university students, elementary school teachers and university professors, who willingly answered all questions (n = 663). It also proposes a causal model relating the indicators to the perception attendance pointed out in the paradigm of the Community of Inquiry. We use the Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the data and understand the relationships. The validation of the model was carried out a subsample (n = 198). The results suggest that an increase in individual skills through previous training of students, have a positive impact on the perception of the characteristics of virtual learning environment, reflecting the perceptions of attendance. In this work, the standardized regression weight indicates an increase of 0.49 standard deviation in Perception of the Community of Inquiry Scale when the scale of the variable Characteristics of Students increases by one standard deviation; and further that the Communication Skill positively affects the Social Presence (standardized regression weight of 0.26). The same happens with the Basic Digital Proficiency and Cognitive Presence (standardized regression weight of 0.08). Thus, understanding how the indicators affect the perception of the structure proposed in the Virtual Learning Environment can assist those responsible for courses in management of available resources, and to offer training designed to develop such skills. Research tools proposed in this work have few questions and are available for free. These tools make possible a quick, simplified and effective analysis of classes, and enable the most appropriate settings for online courses through the schedule of activities aimed at effectively contribute to the training of students of the analyzed class.

Abstract The study analyzes the theoretical basis of the Philosophy for Children (P4C) program elaborated by Matthew Lipman. The aim is, firstly, to identify the main philosophical and pedagogical principles of P4C based on American pragmatism, and to locate their pedagogization and possible problems in Lipman's thinking. Here the discussion is especially targeted to the thinking of John Dewey and George H. Mead as well as Lev Vygotsky, whom Lipman himself names as the most pivotal sources for his own thinking. On the other hand, the study aims at opening up new perspectives and thematizations on P4C from the viewpoint of the continental tradition of thought. The essential principles of P4C connected with reasonableness and judgment are ultimately interpreted as a neo-Aristotelian effort to contextualize philosophy by tracing it back to moderation, the man's ability to consider and solve problems that he meets in practical life kata ton orthon logon – by doing right things in the right place at the right time in the right way. This phronetic idea of 'humanizing modernity' combined with the evolution of the adult-child concept is argued to be one of the conditions for the possibility of P4C, yet leaving unsolved the basic problems involving pedagogical action as such. John Dewey's ideas arising from the critique of the modern philosophy of consciousness, focusing on the significance of philosophy in practical human life and linked to the basic nature of human knowing and intellectual growth and, further, to the ideal of a democratic community, are shown to form the main intellectual sources of P4C. Dewey's philosophy as a general theory of education means a solid linking of the concepts of experience and inquiry to the practice of education. This is based on the naturalistic conception of man according to which man is built in dynamic transaction with his environment, experiencing the true meanings of his ideas in the consequences of his actions as he tries to solve problematic situations. So, inquiry as a method of reflective thinking forms the basis for education based on intellectual growth. A condition for it is a context meaningful for the child in which the paradigm of inquiry can be realized authentically. It is therefore important in education to provide circumstances that stimulate the child's curiosity, initiating a process of inquiry that further enables, through the formation of reflective habits, the development of a democratic community. The purpose of the pedagogical interaction taking place in the process of inquiry is to produce educative experiences for the child, making the pedagogical relationship vanish at the same time. The idea is that in pedagogical action the child's subjectivity, his desire and impulses are adapted to the tradition, yet generating at the same time a prospective, reflective habit, thus freeing the educatee to think intelligently for himself. The study shows the articulation of these principles in Lipman's practical effort to convert the classroom into a community of inquiry, but it also argues that the above-mentioned Bildung theoretical core problem of pedagogical action, related to its paradoxical special characteristics to produce autonomous subjectivity, is not thematized. In connection with this issue, the educational thinking of Kant and Hegel is discussed especially from the viewpoint of philosophy teaching. To provide a new perspective for the discussion, the study outlines the community of inquiry as an 'educative space' from the viewpoints of the pedagogical relationship typical of hermeneutic pedagogy and of non-reflective functional structures and phenomena based on pedagogical intuition that are linked to it. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksessa eritellään Matthew Lipmanin kehittelemän Filosofiaa lapsille (P4C) ohjelman teoreettisia perusteita. Tarkoituksena on ensinnäkin identifioida P4C:n amerikkalaiseen pragmatismiin palautuvat filosofiset ja pedagogiset pääperiaatteet sekä paikallistaa niiden pedagogisoituminen sekä mahdolliset ongelmat Lipmanin ajattelussa. Tällöin tarkastelun kohteena on erityisesti John Deweyn ja Georg H. Meadin ajattelu sekä lisäksi Lev Vygotsky, jotka kolme Lipman itse nimeää oman ajattelunsa merkittävimmiksi lähteiksi. Toisaalta tutkimuksessa pyritään avaamaan P4C:lle uusia näkökulmia ja tematisointeja mannermaisen ajatteluperinteen näkökulmasta. P4C:n keskeiset järkevyyteen ja arvostelukykyyn liittyvät periaatteet tulkitaan viimekädessä uusaristotelisena pyrkimyksenä kontekstualisoida filosofia palauttamalla se kohtuullisuuteen, ihmisen kykyyn harkita ja ratkaista käytännöllisessä elämässä kohtaamiaan ongelmia kata ton orthon logon – tekemällä oikeita asioita oikeassa paikassa oikeaan aikaan oikealla tavalla. Tämä 'modernin inhimillistämisen' froneettinen idea yhdistyneenä aikuinen-lapsi käsitteen evoluutioon argumentoidaan P4C:n yhdeksi mahdollisuusehdoksi, joka jättää kuitenkin pedagogiseen toimintaan sinänsä liittyvät perusongelmat ratkaisematta. John Deweyn modernin tietoisuusfilosofian kritiikistä nousevat, filosofian merkitystä ihmisen käytännöllisessä elämässä korostavat näkemykset, jotka liittyvät inhimillisen tietämisen ja älyllisen kasvun perusluonteeseen sekä edelleen demokraattisen yhteisön ideaaliin osoitetaan P4C:n keskeisiksi intellektuaalisiksi lähteiksi. Dewey'n filosofia yleisenä kasvatuksen teoriana merkitsee kokemuksen ja tutkimuksen käsitteiden kiinteää kytkemistä kasvatuksen käytäntöön. Tämä perustuu naturalistiseen ihmiskäsitykseen, jonka mukaan ihminen rakentuu dynaamisessa transaktiossa ympäristönsä kanssa kokien ideoidensa todet merkitykset toimintansa seurauksissa pyrkiessään ratkaisemaan ongelmallisia tilanteita. Tällöin tutkimus reflektiivisen ajattelun metodina muodostaa perustan älylliseen kasvuun perustuvalle kasvatukselle. Sen ehtona on sellainen lapselle merkityksellinen konteksti, jossa tutkimuksen paradigma voi toteutua autenttisena. Kasvatuksessa on siten tärkeää luoda olosuhteet, jotka stimuloivat lapsen uteliaisuutta käynnistäen tutkimuksen prosessin, joka edelleen mahdollistaa reflektiivisten tapojen muodostumisen kautta demokraattisen yhteisön kehittymisen. Tutkimuksen prosessissa tapahtuvan pedagogisen interaktion tarkoituksena on tuottaa lapselle kasvattavia kokemuksia häivyttäen samalla pedagogista suhdetta. Ajatuksena on, että pedagogisessa toiminnassa lapsen subjektiviteetti, hänen halunsa ja impulssinsa sovittuvat traditioon generoiden samalla kuitenkin tulevaisuuteen suuntautuvaa, reflektiivistä tapaa vapauttaen näin kasvatettavan ajattelemaan älykkäästi itse. Tutkimuksessa osoitetaan näiden periaatteiden artikuloituminen Lipmanin käytännöllisessä pyrkimyksessä muuntaa koululuokka tutkivaksi yhteisöksi, mutta samalla kuitenkin argumentoidaan, että mainittu pedagogisen toiminnan sivistysteoreettinen ydinongelma liittyen sen paradoksaaliseen erityisluonteeseen autonomisen subjektiviteetin tuottamiseksi ei tematisoidu. Tämän kysymyksen yhteydessä tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan Kantin ja Hegelin kasvatusajattelua erityisesti filosofian opetuksen näkökulmasta. Uutena avauksena tutkimuksessa hahmotellaan tutkivaa yhteisöä 'kasvattavana tilana' hermeneuttiselle pedagogiikalle ominaisen pedagogisen suhteen ja siihen kytkeytyvien ei-reflektiivisten, pedagogiseen intuitioon perustuvien toimintarakenteiden ja ilmiöiden näkökulmasta.