Este trabalho visou ampliar os conhecimentos sobre avaliação em longo prazo de cursos de formação continuada para docente em Educação a Distância (EaD), enfocando Ensino de Botânica e percepção de professores da rede pública estadual de São Paulo sobre aspectos do Conhecimento Pedagógico do Conteúdo (PCK). O objetivo específico foi avaliar a percepção dos docentes participantes de uma disciplina de Botânica, inserida no curso de especialização para professores de Biologia (EspBio), pertencente ao programa REDEFOR (Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente), em relação às influências de tal disciplina na prática docente atual, sobre alguns aspectos relacionados ao PCK, segundo o modelo de Rollnick et al. (2008): 1. Conhecimento Específico de Botânica; 2. Importância da Botânica no Ensino Médio; 3. Escolha de Práticas de Ensino, Estratégias e Materiais Didáticos; 4. Seleção dos Conteúdos Específicos; 5. Dificuldades dos Alunos em relação à aprendizagem de Botânica. Visando atingir tais objetivos, utilizamos como instrumento de coleta de dados questionários virtuais distribuídos para todos os participantes (cerca de 800) das duas versões (2010/2011 e 2011/2012) do curso, onde obtivemos retorno de 75 deles, ou seja, uma taxa de resposta de 9,3%. As respostas das oito questões foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo segundo Bardin (2009), onde os dados foram agrupados em cinco Eixos de Análises (EA), correspondentes aos aspectos do PCK destacados nos objetivos específicos. Os principais achados referentes a esses eixos são: EA1. 93% dos participantes declararam que houve ampliação em seu conhecimento específico sobre Botânica a partir da disciplina e destacaram, principalmente, o aprimoramento conceitual e a influência positiva em suas práticas docentes, que se tornaram mais dinâmicas, contextualizadas, motivadoras e com caráter mais prático, bem como se tornaram mais confiantes para ensinar a temática; EA2. A importância de ensinar Botânica, principalmente associada a relação das plantas com nosso cotidiano e com as questões ambientais e ecológicas, foi amplamente reconhecida pelos professores (93%), bem como a influência da disciplina nessa valorização (67%). Porém, 33% não declarou tal influência, visto que já possuíam esta ideia antes da disciplina; EA 3. Grande parte dos professores (76%) destacou a influência da disciplina na prática docente atual, tanto por utilizar recursos e estratégias disponibilizados na mesma (72%), quanto por ter obtido inspiração para novas abordagens (63%), como aulas mais práticas, dinâmicas e contextualizadas. 17% dos professores tiveram dificuldades para implementar as propostas apresentadas pela disciplina, principalmente devido a entraves do contexto de ensino. EA 4. A influência da disciplina Botânica na seleção de conteúdos conceituais foi relatada por 64% dos professores, que descreveram mudanças relacionadas com as formas de trabalhar os conteúdos (estratégias, recursos e abordagens), e não relacionadas à sua seleção propriamente dita, mas destacaram a melhora no conhecimento de Botânica, que permitiu mudanças positivas na seleção e abordagem desses conteúdos em sala de aula. Já 29% dos docentes não relataram mudanças após a disciplina e isso foi, em grande parte, justificado pela pouca flexibilidade curricular no contexto de alguns professores ou por condições ruins de trabalho docente. EA 5. 73% dos participantes declararam que a disciplina os ajudou a refletir sobre as dificuldades específicas que os alunos enfrentam ao estudar Botânica, onde relatos foram destacados para diminuir as dificuldades de seus alunos, buscando um processo de ensino e aprendizagem mais dinâmico e contextualizado, que valorize as concepções iniciais dos estudantes. Quanto aos temas específicos: evolução, filogenia, fotossíntese e ciclos reprodutivos foram considerados pelos professores como aqueles de aprendizagem mais difícil. Assim, pudemos detectar, nos diferentes EA, elementos ligados às manifestações presentes no modelo de PCK de Rollnick et al. (2008), principalmente Estratégias Instrucionais de um Conteúdo Específico, Representações e Saliência Curricular, indicando que os conhecimentos docentes foram mobilizados prática docente. Nosso estudo aponta a necessidade de valorizar e investir no aprimoramento do PCK de Botânica em cursos de formação continuada de professores no contexto brasileiro, sendo a EaD uma alternativa viável e importante. O professor necessita de outros conhecimentos associados, além do específico, como o conhecimento dos alunos, do contexto e pedagógico geral, para ter melhores condições de desenvolver e refletir sobre sua prática docente / This dissertation aimed to broaden the knowledge about the long-term evaluation of continuing courses for Distance Education, gathering Botanical teaching and the perception of teachers of public São Paulo state network schools about the aspects of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). The specific objective was to evaluate the perception of these teachers who participated in the Botanical discipline - part of the specialization course of Biology teaching (EspBio) and also part of the program REDEFOR (Rede São Paulo de Formação Docente) - about the influence of such discipline in their current teaching practice, analyzed through the aspects related to PCK, according to Rollnich et al. (2008) model: 1. Specialized knowledge of Botanic; 2. The importance of Botanical teaching in high school; 3. Choice of Teaching Practices, Strategies, and Didactic Materials; 4. Selection of Specific Contents; 5. Difficulties of the Students related to Botanic learning. In order to achieve these objectives, we used virtual questionnaires given to all participants (about 800) of the two versions (2010/2011 and 2011/2012) of the course, and we obtained a return of 75 participants, a response rate of 9.3%. The responses of the eight questions were submitted to the content analysis according to Bardin (2009), where the data were grouped into five Analysis Axes (EA), corresponding to the aspects of the PCK highlighted in the specific objective above. The main findings regarding these axes are: EA1. 93% of the participants declared that there was an increase in their knowledge about Botanic after they did the discipline, mainly, in the conceptual improvement and positive influence in their teaching practices, which became more dynamic, contextual, motivating and more practical, as well as they become more confident to teach the subject; EA2. The importance of teaching Botanic, mainly associated with the relation of plants to our daily life and with the environmental and ecological issues, was widely recognized by teachers (93%), as well as the influence of the discipline in this valorization (67%). However, 33% did not declare such influence, since they already had this idea before the discipline; EA 3. A big portion of the teachers (76%) emphasized the influence of the discipline in their current teaching practice, both for using resources and strategies already available in this discipline (72%), and for having been inspired by its new approaches (63%), such as had more practical, dynamic and contextualized teaching classes. 17% of the teachers had difficulties in implementing the proposals presented by the discipline, mainly due to obstacles in the teaching context. EA 4. The influence of the Botanic discipline on their selection of conceptual content was reported by 64% of the teachers and they described these changes related to the way of working contents (strategies, resources and approaches), not related to their selection, but also noticed the improvement in their Botanical knowledge, which allowed positive changes in the selection and approach of these contents in the classroom. 29% did not report changes after taking the discipline and this was, for the most part, justified by their lack of curricular flexibility in the context of some teachers or poor conditions of teaching work. EA 5. 73% of the participants stated that the discipline helped them to think about the specific difficulties students may face when studying Botanic, where reports were highlighted to reduce the difficulties of their students, seeking a more dynamic and contextualized teaching and learning process, that values the learning concepts of their students. Specific subjects like evolution, phylogeny, photosynthesis and reproductive cycles were considered by teachers as those of more difficult learning process. Thus, we could detect, in the different AE, elements linked to the manifestations present in the PCK model of Rollnick et al. (2008), mainly Instructional Strategies of a Specific Content, Representations and Curriculum Outline, indicating that teaching knowledge was in fact mobilized. Our study points out the need to value and invest in the improvement of Botanic PCK model for continuing teaching courses in the Brazilian context, and the EaD is a viable and valuable alternative path. The teacher needs other associated knowledge, as well as specific knowledge, such as students\' knowledge, context, and general pedagogy, in order to have better conditions to develop and influence their teaching practice

Este estudo pretendeu identificar os saberes que são construídos na prática pedagógica de docentes que atuam na Educação de Jovens e Adultos. Foi de nosso interesse identificar e analisar como são construídos tais saberes, e apreendê-los em seus significados.Tomamos as contribuições teóricas de Bronfenbrenner (1996), para explicar as influências do contexto e do tempo no desenvolvimento profissional e na construção dos saberes pedagógicos; as pesquisas e reflexões sobre formação de professores, oferecidas por Alarcão (2001), Tardif(2002), Nóvoa (1992),Imbernón (2004) entre outros teóricos que investigam os saberes docentes e os significados que os professores atribuem às experiências profissionais, também foram consideradas.Usamos, ainda, como referência, os documentos oficiais que orientam as ações na prática da Educação de Jovens e Adultos. As questões que orientaram esse estudo são voltadas para as práticas educativas adotadas por um grupo de professores no contexto da Educação de Jovens e Adultos no Ensino Fundamental e Médio. O campo de pesquisa é uma instituição de ensino pública estadual, localizada em uma cidade do interior paulista, que funciona em período integral, de forma dinâmica e diferenciada, com professores se revezando para o atendimento aos alunos, jovens e adultos. Este centro abriga 3000 alunos e 26 professores de diferentes áreas do conhecimento. Da pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, participaram dezesseis professores sujeitos da observação participante, e um grupo de dez professores que se dispôs a participar das narrativas autobiográficas. Foram valorizados os novos questionamentos que emergem do cotidiano e as reflexões trazidas pelos sujeitos a partir das suas experiências profissionais. O procedimento metodológico foi o autobiográfico e a observação participante. Por meio das narrativas dos sujeitos e da observação participante a pesquisadora coletou dados que possibilitaram a identificação dos saberes. Concluiu-seque os saberes construídos pelos professores na sua prática diária e desenvolvidos no meio em que atuam são afetivos e pedagógicos;e são saberes validados pela prática.Constatamos no contexto investigado uma prática reflexiva como elemento estimulador na construção dos saberes docentes experienciais. / This study aimed to identify the knowledge that are built in the pedagogical practice of teachers working in Youth and Adults. We were interested in identifying and analyzing how they are constructed such knowledge, and seize them in their meanings. We take the theoretical contributions of Bronfenbrenner (1996) to explain the influences of context and time in professional development and the construction of pedagogical knowledge, research and reflections on teacher training, offered by Alarcão (2001), Tardif (2002), Nóvoa (1992), Imbernon (2004) and other theorists who investigate teacher knowledge and meanings that teachers attach to professional experiences were also considered. Used also as a reference, the official documents that guide the actions in the practice of Education for Youth and Adults. The questions that guided this study are focused on the practices adopted by a group of teachers in the context of Education for Youth and Adults in Primary and Secondary Education. The search field is a state public education institution, located in the interior of a city that works full time in a dynamic and differentiated, with teachers taking turns to care for students, youths and adults. This center houses 3000 students and 26 teachers from different areas of knowledge. Research, qualitative, sixteen teachers participated in the subject participant observation, and a group of ten teachers who volunteered to participate in autobiographical narratives. Were valued new questions that emerge from daily life and the reflections made by the subjects from their professional experiences. The methodological procedure was autobiographical and participant observation. Through the narratives of the subject and participant observation the researcher collected data that allowed the identification of knowledge. It was concluded that the knowledge constructed by teachers in their daily practice and developed in the middle that are affective and pedagogical work, and are validated by practical knowledge. Found in the context investigated reflective practice as enhancer element in the construction of experiential teaching knowledge.

The purpose of the study was to explore problems encountered in the teaching and learning of statistics in grade 11 and to offer ways of addressing them. A convenient sample of 100 grade 11 mathematics teachers and 448 grade 11 mathematics learners participated in the study. A descriptive survey design was used. Data were collected from the teachers using a teacher questionnaire, classroom observation schedule and teacher interview, and from learners through the use of a learner questionnaire, classroom observation schedule, diagnostic test and learner interview. The validity and reliability of all these instruments was established. Descriptive statistics and frequencies were used to analyse learner questionnaires, teacher questionnaires and learners‟ responses to a diagnostic test. Teacher and learner interviews were transcribed and classified according to themes. Classroom observations were analysed by using themes and checking for similarities and differences. The results showed that teachers had difficulty with the interpretation and calculation of measures of dispersion; representation and interpretation of data on graphs or plots; determining the five number summary; constructing and interpreting probability diagrams and tables; and interpreting probability terminology. Also, the results showed that learners experienced difficulties when using graphs to predict the results; interpreting and determining measures of dispersion; computation of quartiles when the total number of data values was even; representing data on graphs or plots; interpreting and determining measures of central tendency; constructing and interpreting probability graphs and tables; and interpreting probability terminology. The results found possible causes of the teachers‟ difficulties to be (1) their lack of statistics content knowledge; (2) inadequate textbooks; (3) in-service programmes which did not cover statistical topics, or which did not pay adequate attention to probability; and (4) teachers failure to attend these in-service teacher workshops. Further, the findings of the study were that the probable causes of learners‟ difficulties were (1) inadequate teaching of statistics topics in previous grades; (2) teachers‟ lack of content knowledge in statistics meant they had difficulty explaining concepts to learners; (3) inadequate learning material and learners‟ inability to use the statistics function mode on their calculators; and (4) learners‟ lack of conceptual knowledge of certain aspects of statistics. Lastly, the results of the study found that the possible ways to address the problems in the teaching and learning of statistics in grade 11 to be: (1) teachers should receive financial support from their schools/districts to attend in-service education and training programmes; (2) textbooks should be well written (provide thorough explanations) and contain all the information necessary to teach data handling and probability (i.e. formulae, more examples); (3) in-service teacher programmes should meet the needs of the teachers by offering topics that teachers find difficult to teach; and (4) more and longer inset programmes on probability, preferably five-day workshops, should be arranged. / Mathematics Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education)

The focus of this study is on the Foundation Phase mathematical and pedagogical knowledge construction. This study is about how two lecturers and a number of final year B.Ed. Foundation Phase student teachers construct Foundation Phase mathematical and pedagogical knowledge during the initial teacher education programme. The initial B.Ed. Foundation Phase teacher education provides student teachers with different mathematical knowledge for teaching. A Foundation Phase mathematics pedagogical knowledge construction framework was utilised to generate and analyse data. The Foundation Phase mathematics pedagogical knowledge construction framework is developed with the assumption that the integrated learning knowledge and the process of pedagogical reasoning action is a continuous process. Furthermore, it is assumed that student teachers’ active participation in their learning and paddling through the pedagogical reasoning action process, leads to the construction of Foundation Phase mathematical pedagogical knowledge. The study utilised a qualitative case study design to investigate how two initial teacher education programmes construct Foundation Phase mathematical pedagogical knowledge in their programme to prepare student teachers to teach Foundation Phase mathematics. Data were collected from Foundation Phase mathematics lecturers through semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews with final year Foundation Phase student teachers as well as document analysis from the institutions to achieve triangulation. Data analysis and findings were based on themes and categories that emerged. The findings suggest that Foundation Phase mathematical and pedagogical knowledge construction is an interconnected and continuous process that includes different types of knowledge and pedagogical reasoning. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2014. / tm2015 / Educational Psychology / MEd / Unrestricted

This study is concerned with how competent mathematics teachers develop pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in statistics teaching. Pedagogical content knowledge was used as the theoretical framework that guided the research and data collection. The study’s methodology consisted of two phases. In the first phase, the six identified mathematics teachers undertook a conceptual knowledge written exercise. The result of this exercise was used to select the best four performing teachers for the second phase of the study. The second phase consisted mainly of lesson observations, interviews, written documents in the form of completed questionnaires, written diaries or reports, document analysis designed to produce rich detailed descriptions of participating teachers’ PCK in the context of teaching statistics concepts at school level. The concept mapping exercise was used to indirectly assess participating teachers’ content knowledge and their conceptions of the nature of school statistics and how it is to be taught. The qualitative data obtained were analysed to try to determine individual teachers’ content knowledge of school statistics, related pedagogical knowledge, knowledge of learners’ conceptions in statistics teaching, knowledge of learners’ learning difficulties as well as how they developed their PCK in statistics teaching. The analysis was done based on iterative coding and categorisation of responses and observations made to identify themes, patterns, and gaps, in school statistics teaching. Commonalities and differences if any, in the PCK profiles of the four participating teachers were also analysed and determined. The results of the study showed that overall, individual teachers develop their PCK in school statistics teaching by: (a) formally developing their knowledge of the subject matter in a formal undergraduate educational programme, as well as subject matter content knowledge during classroom practice; (b) using varied topic-specific instructional skills such as graphical construction skills in teaching statistical graphs; (c) using diagnostic techniques (oral questioning and pre-activity, class discussions and questioning) and a review of previous lessons to introduce lessons, and to determine learners’ preconceptions in statistics teaching ; (d) Using teaching strategies that can help to identify learners’ learning difficulties as well as intervention to address the difficulties; (e) continually updating their knowledge of school statistics by attending content knowledge workshops and other teacher development programmes designed to improve content knowledge and practice. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted

This study examines how university academics understand and enact knowledge requirements embedded in official teacher education policies. The research probes faculty understandings of what constitutes ‘relevant and appropriate pedagogies’ in teacher education curricula, and the basis of such knowledge selections in the absence of a stable ‘knowledge base’ of teacher education. In teacher education, new national norms and standards are intended to guide curriculum processes in new programmes. However, policies remain open to wide interpretation and assume common understandings among the teacher education community with regard to knowledge, practices and values. This study, conducted in three university-based Faculties of Education, analyses the curriculum motivations, processes and practices of education academics, in an attempt to understand and explain their responses to policy requirements. The conceptual framework of Paul Trowler is employed to examine the Teaching and Learning Regimes (TLRs) at work in academic contexts. By lifting out the discursive repertoires, identities in interaction, tacit assumptions, connotative codes, implicit theories of teaching and learning, power relations, rules of appropriateness and recurrent practices among faculty members, this research demonstrates how knowledge is mediated in and through institutional contexts. Three parallel Faculty portraits elucidate stark differences in approaches to curricula and in curriculum processes, a consequence of the lack of a stable knowledge base and the perceived vagueness of policy directives. Significantly, institutional histories and traditions feature prominently as ‘shapers’ of academic responses to change, factors that, the study argues, government policies have not taken into account. / Thesis (PhD (Education Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

This qualitative case study explored the writing assessment practices of upper elementary ELA teachers and factors that influenced their decision making when assessing student writing. Effective assessment practices are important because these practices can aid teachers in identifying student needs, designing tailored writing instruction, and monitoring student progress. This study included 5 teacher participants from 3rd to 5th grade. Participants were viewed as 1 case bound by their grade band and employment in a district focused on teaching and assessing writing. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, a think aloud task, a review of assessment artifacts and the researcher’s reflective journal. Analysis was completed following a five-phase model. Findings included: (1) teachers’ efficacy of assessing student writing is influenced by support received, (2) strengthening teachers’ assessment practices requires personalized, ongoing PD, (3) context influences teachers’ decision making when assessing student writing, and (4) teachers have varying levels of knowledge of formatively assessing student writing. These findings suggest implications for state administrators, district and school administrators, classroom teachers, curriculum leaders, and university programs.

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Several misconceptions show up when learners answer questions on Chemical Equilibrium during examinations. Literature from other researchers shows similar trend of misconceptions (Johnstone, 2000; Morais, Paiva and Barros, 2007; Adesoji and Babatunde, 2008) for example, ‘apply pressure to the reactants’ (Johnstone, 2000). This shows that Chemistry has no meaning to these learners and they end up with misconceptions as they try to memorise facts in order to pass examinations. Learners are taught before writing these examinations, but how are they taught the concepts of Chemical Equilibrium? A descriptive approach was used on an exploratory survey conducted in Thohoyandou Cluster among Physical Science (Chemistry) FET band Educators. Cluster sampling of 40 educators from 18 randomly sampled schools responded to questionnaires. Five ‘well experienced’ educators who have been producing ‘good’ results at Grade 12 NSC examinations and two Physical Sciences subject advisors were interviewed. Using Spearman Brown Split-Half statistical method a 0,891 reliability coefficient was obtained. Research results show lack or under utilisation of laboratory equipment, teaching strategies which promote rote learning. Lack of confidence of educators due to deficiency in topic content knowledge and pedagogical skills which promote conceptual understanding were identified. Problem of English language leading to communication breakdown between educator-learners and between learner-subject leading to emergency of knowledge gaps in learners. Educators consider professional development through re-training and workshops on subject content matter and teaching strategies as the way forward to improve the quality of teaching. Topic specific PCK focusing on problem-solving strategy was recommended as a means to increasing educators’ efficiency in teaching and enhance learners’ comprehension and achievement in Physical Science. / Science and Technology Education / M. Sc. (Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (Chemistry Education))