This thesis explores schoolyard-based education as a viable and necessary method for rectifying the shortcomings within the American public school system and the Nature-deficit Disorder epidemic. We argue that schoolyard-based education should be fully integrated into the school system, not in the sole form of popularized school gardens, but as a standard teaching method. We show this using extensive research and a case study of three elementary schools in Claremont, California.

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

This report describes the process of a thesis implemented in Colombia concerning solar energy. The project was to install a self-circulating solar heating system, as well as creating exchange of knowledge regarding renewable energy. One of the two major goals of the project was to achieve a functioning solar heating system in Timbio, a village outside the city of Popayán in south west Colombia. The purpose was to use the free power from the sun and show people how to use it in a way that is not complicated or too expensive. The second major goal was to hold workshops about renewable energy in general, and solar energy in particular. The preparatory work started in October 2010 by concretizing the project, applying for scholarships and establishing necessary contacts; both in Colombia and Sweden. Research and correspondence continued throughout 2011, along with the search for finance from companies and funds to cover the project costs. The implementation took approximately three months and was finished in April 2012. However, the project was limited due to time scale and financial resources. The project was successful; a functioning solar heater and workshops. The aim to arise interest for renewable energy is fulfilled plus the aim to show how to use solar energy in a practical and useful way. / Denna rapport beskriver processen av ett examensarbete som behandlar solenergi, implementerat i Colombia. Projektet innebar en installation av en självcirkulerande solvärmeanläggning, och även kunskapsutbyte om förnybar energi. Ett av de två huvudmålen var att installera en fungerande solvärmeanläggning i byn Timbio utanför staden Popayán i sydvästra Colombia. Syftet var att använda gratis energi från solen och visa människor hur man kan använda energin på ett inte alltför komplicerat eller dyrt sätt. Det andra huvudmålet var att hålla workshops om förnybar energi i allmänhet och solenergi i synnerhet. Förberedelserna började i oktober 2010 genom konkretisering av projektet, stipendieansökningar och skapandet av nödvändiga kontakter; i Colombia och Sverige. Efterforskningar och korrespondens fortsatte under 2011 samtidigt som finansiering till projektet söktes från företag och fonder. Installationen tog ungefär tre månader och färdigställdes i april 2012. Projektet begränsades av tillgänglig tid och ekonomiska resurser. Projektet blev framgångsrikt; en fungerande solvärmeanläggning och lyckade workshops. Målet att väcka intresse för förnybar energi uppfylldes, även målet att visa hur solenergi kan användas på ett praktiskt och användbart sätt.

本硏究旨在探討韓國幼兒敎育的演進與現況,並分析韓國幼兒敎育公共敎育的現狀與問題∘本硏究目的主要有三 : 一ᆞ探討韓國幼兒敎育的演進與現況 ; 二ᆞ分析韓國幼兒敎育公共敎育的現狀與問題 ; 三ᆞ提出具體建議∘ 本硏究基本採用文件分析的方法，這些文件包括幼兒敎育制度及各種相關硏究報告ᆞ學術論文ᆞ專著ᆞ統計ᆞ法令和政府機關的各種資料∘根據上述目的和方法，本硏究所探討內容如下：首先,將對幼兒敎育的槪念及其必要性ᆞ幼兒敎育公共敎育的槪念ᆞ近現代幼兒敎育的理論背景進行考察;其次，對韓國幼兒敎育的歷史變遷過程：傳統階段ᆞ發展階段ᆞ成長階段ᆞ發展和整頓階段ᆞ成熟階段等階段進行論述;其次,以幼兒敎育的社會背景ᆞ幼兒園的種類ᆞ設立與經營ᆞ敎師培訓ᆞ課程和相關法令爲中心，對韓國幼兒敎育的現狀進行論述;再次,論述外國幼兒敎育公共敎育的現狀ᆞ韓國幼兒敎育公共敎育的確立及其發展ᆞ韓國幼兒敎育公共敎育的財政狀況等等;最後,對硏究結果作槪略性的歸納和整理，同時提出六項具體建議 : 一ᆞ儘量擴大提供幼兒公共敎育的機會，以期實現普遍主義理念∘ 二ᆞ應保障公共敎育政策的連續性與平衡性，以期達成合理主義理念∘ 三ᆞ用全新的思考方式建構新的經營方式，以此實現變革和發展∘ 四ᆞ充實敎師培過程並强化培訓過程，以此提高敎師的專業性∘ 五ᆞ改善敎師待遇，以此吸收優秀人才ᆞ提高敎學水準∘ 六ᆞ推行課程和項目的標準化，以此使敎育質量有利於統一∘ / The theme of this study is historic transition, present situation and problem of early childhood education in Korea as well as the direction for future development. The three main objectives of this study are as follows : 1. To discuss the alteration and present situation of early childhood education in Korea. 2. To discuss the present status and problem of early childhood education to public one in Korea. 3. To present the direction for development of early childhood education to public one in Korea. This study basically adopts the method of literary analysis. Literatures comprise diverse reports, academic dissertation, specialized books, statistics, law and materials of government institutions related to early childhood education. The main contents of this study are as follows. First, it described the concept and importance of early childhood education, concept of early childhood education to public one and theoretic development process of modern early childhood education. Second, it discussed the transition of early childhood education in Korea by dividing it into traditional stage, initial development stage, growth stage, development and arrangement state and maturity stage. Third, it investigated the present situation of early childhood education in Korea in the aspect of educational institution, curriculum, cultivating teachers, related law and so on. Fourth, it described the present situation of early childhood education to public one in foreign countries and discussed development process and problem in early childhood education to public one in Korea. Finally, it presented the following suggestions by generalizing the above contents and drawing conclusion. 1. To maximize the opportunity of public education. 2. To maintain continuity of educational policy and to secure equilibrium between regions and classes. 3. To import new management method on the basis of fresh way of thinking. 4. To reinforce teacher cultivating course and re-education course. 5. To improve the treatment for teachers. 6. To propel the curriculum and standardization of educational items.

No description available.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

本研究之目的在於探討家庭閱讀環境、教室閱讀環境與幼兒閱讀成效之關係，以及不同家庭社經地位之幼兒其幼兒閱讀成效之差異情形。幼兒閱讀成效在本研究為一整體的概念，包括幼兒閱讀態度、幼兒閱讀行為與幼兒閱讀能力(聲韻覺識、識字、閱讀理解)。 本研究以130位就讀台北市公立幼兒園大班五足歲幼兒及其父母與教師作為研究對象。事先發放家庭閱讀環境問卷、教室閱讀環境問卷請家長與教師填，學前兒童閱讀行為檢核表亦請家長與教師協助完成。最後為130位幼兒進行一對一個別施測(幼兒閱讀態度、幼兒閱讀能力─聲韻覺識、識字、閱讀理解)。 研究結果顯示，家庭社經地位高者，其幼兒的閱讀行為、聲韻覺識達顯著差異，但無論來自何種家庭社經地位，幼兒閱讀態度、識字與閱讀理解方面則無顯著差異。此外，家庭閱讀環境與幼兒閱讀成效間無顯著的相關性；教室閱讀環境其構面僅「教師對閱讀的支持」與幼兒閱讀行為達顯著相關，其他構面「閱讀空間及資源」、「閱讀課程與活動」、「同儕互動」與幼兒閱讀成效無顯著的相關性。 本研究針對統計結果進行分析與討論，並對家長、幼兒園教師及未來相關研究提供建議，期待能對幼兒閱讀成效在家庭閱讀環境、教室閱讀環境中的培養有所助益。 / The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship among home reading environment, kindergarten classroom reading environment and Child’s effects for reading, regardless of socio-economic status(SES).Their Child’s effects for reading includes young children reading attitudes, young children reading behavior and young children reading ability. Their literacy includes phonological awareness, word recognition, and reading comprehension. A total of 130 five-year-old young children and their teachers from public kindergartens participating in this study in Taipei, were given the Questionnaire of home reading environment and kindergarten classroom reading environment for their parents and teachers, and checklist of young children reading behavior for their parents and teachers. At last, individual test Child’s effects for reading one by one had been conducted (including young children reading attitudes, young children reading ability─phonological awareness, word recognition, and reading comprehension.). The results showed that the higher the socio-economic status, the better their young children reading behavior, and phonological awareness, but there is no differences in young children reading attitudes, word recognition, and reading comprehension. In addition, the home reading environment and child’s effects for reading have no significant correlation. The kindergarten classroom reading environments and child’s effects for reading have no statistically significantly relationship, only 「Support-to-read teaches」and young children reading behavior have statistically significant relationship. In this study, statistical analysis of the results and discussion for parents, kindergarten teachers and future research recommendations, is looking forward to helping Child’s effects for reading in the home reading environment and kindergarten classroom reading environment.

Current policy to extend early childhood education by placing grade R in public primary schools is politically, economically and educationally motivated. Quality education in grade R has definite long term economic advantages and could ensure equal educational opportunities. The educator is a key factor in this issue and her perception of her work life determines to a large extent the success of the initiative. The work fulfilment of the grade R educator is approached in this research from a labour law perspective and was conducted in the field of Education Law. The philosophic base of Education Law is found in the German educational term geborgenheit, which refers to the safety and security of all role players in education. The experience of security is regarded as a prerequisite for work fulfilment. The Constitution, education legislation, labour law, relevant case law and the common law were studied as legal determinants for work fulfilment. A qualitative enquiry into educators’ perceptions of their work life was conducted amongst participants in a specific area, which included schools from different socio–economic and cultural backgrounds. The essence of the findings is that, in spite of the existence of legislation which in principle should provide for physical and psychological security, educators still experience insecurity and therefore a lack of work fulfilment because of the ineffective implementation of law and policy. Widespread ignorance regarding the nature of quality education in grade R exists and the insistence on educator centralised teaching limits the work fulfilment of especially well–trained educators. Awareness of the advantages of a play based, whole–child approach has to be developed. This approach, as well as knowledge of legal determinants, promote work fulfilment, since both serve the best interests of the child as well as the educator. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Current policy to extend early childhood education by placing grade R in public primary schools is politically, economically and educationally motivated. Quality education in grade R has definite long term economic advantages and could ensure equal educational opportunities. The educator is a key factor in this issue and her perception of her work life determines to a large extent the success of the initiative. The work fulfilment of the grade R educator is approached in this research from a labour law perspective and was conducted in the field of Education Law. The philosophic base of Education Law is found in the German educational term geborgenheit, which refers to the safety and security of all role players in education. The experience of security is regarded as a prerequisite for work fulfilment. The Constitution, education legislation, labour law, relevant case law and the common law were studied as legal determinants for work fulfilment. A qualitative enquiry into educators’ perceptions of their work life was conducted amongst participants in a specific area, which included schools from different socio–economic and cultural backgrounds. The essence of the findings is that, in spite of the existence of legislation which in principle should provide for physical and psychological security, educators still experience insecurity and therefore a lack of work fulfilment because of the ineffective implementation of law and policy. Widespread ignorance regarding the nature of quality education in grade R exists and the insistence on educator centralised teaching limits the work fulfilment of especially well–trained educators. Awareness of the advantages of a play based, whole–child approach has to be developed. This approach, as well as knowledge of legal determinants, promote work fulfilment, since both serve the best interests of the child as well as the educator. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

本研究旨在瞭解幼稚園教師學校組織創新氣氛知覺、知識分享行為對創新教學行為之影響以及三者之關係。首先瞭解幼稚園教師學校組織創新氣氛知覺、知識分享行為與創新教學行為之現況；其次，探討幼稚園教師學校組織創新氣氛知覺、知識分享行為與創新教學行為之相關性；最後，以多元迴歸分析幼稚園教師學校組織創新氣氛知覺與知識分享行為對創新教學行為之預測力，以及探討學校組織創新氣氛是否透過知識分享行為此中介變項影響教師創新教學行為。 本研究以台北市公私立幼稚園教師為研究對象，以「校園創新氣氛量表」，以及修改之「知識分享行為量表」與「創意教學行為量表」為研究工具，有效樣本為272份，資料回收後分別以描述性統計、皮爾森積差相關分析，以及多元迴歸分析等統計方法進行資料處理。本研究獲致之結論如下： 1. 學校組織創新氣氛知覺與創新教學行為達顯著正相關。 2. 知識分享行為與創新教學行為達顯著正相關。 3. 學校組織創新氣氛知覺與知識分享行為達顯著正相關。 4. 學校組織創新氣氛的「工作條件」跟「學習成長」面向可以有效預測教師的 創新教學行為。 5. 知識分享行為的「行動示範」、「知識共構」可有效預測教師創新教學行為。 6. 就學校組織創新氣氛、知識分享行為對創新教學行為的整體模式而言，學校 組織創新氣氛中的「工作條件」可透過知識分享行為中的「行動示範」與「知識共構」此兩個中介變項預測幼稚園教師的創新教學行為。 最後，研究者根據研究結論針對幼稚園組織與幼稚園教師，以及未來研究提出具體建議，以期對未來幼稚園實行創新教學及相關後續研究有所助益。 / The main purposes of this study were as following: First of all, understand the teachers’ awareness of organizational innovative climate, teachers’ knowledge sharing behavior, and innovative teaching. Second, understand the relationships among these three variables. Third, explore the predictive power of the teachers’ awareness of organizational innovative climate, teachers’ knowledge sharing behavior, and innovative teaching. This study adopts the survey method by questionnaire. This study included 272 kindergarten teachers in Taipei city, Taiwan. The applied analysis methods were Descriptive Statistics, Factor analysis, Cronbach α coefficient analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and Regression through SPSS18.0. The main findings of this study were summarized as follows: 1. It showed positive correlation between teachers’ awareness of organizational innovative climate and creative teaching. 2. The relationships between teachers’ knowledge sharing behavior, and creative teaching were positive. 3. It showed positive correlation between teachers’ awareness of organizational innovative climate and teachers’ knowledge sharing behavior. 4. Job Conditions and Professional Learning can predict teachers’ innovative teaching. 5. Action Demonstration and Knowledge Building can predict teachers’ innovative teaching. 6. It appeared that knowledge sharing plays mediating roles among organizational innovative climate and innovative teaching.