Graduation date: 2005

Offering courses that promote, encourage, and support physical activity among college students has been an aim of physical education departments for the past century (Sargeant, 1900). Even so, this population has been identified in Healthy People 2010 as a target population segment in need of physical activity intervention. Historically, such coursework has almost exclusively been activity and skill-based, which made it particularly appealing to students who were already active while those who were not physically active generally avoided such courses (Scantling, Strand, Lackey, & McAleese, 1995). Over time, alternative courses and course formats began to evolve, including conceptually-based Lifetime Fitness for Health (LFH) courses (Corbin, 1969). Such courses were designed to promote wellness-related behaviors among college students, including physical activity participation. These courses have increased in popularity over the past 30 years (Hensley, 2001) and are now included by some colleges and universities as part of the students' graduation requirements (Cardinal, Jacques, & Levi, 2002). Some colleges and universities have also begun offering on-line versions of their LFH courses (Conlee, 2000), but little research has been done on the effectiveness of these courses and the influences delivery format (i.e. face-to-face vs. web-based) may have. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of a theoretically-based, LFH course on college students' behavioral and psychological physical activity orientation. The independent variables were course format (i.e., face-to-face vs. web-based vs. control) and time (i.e., baseline and post-intervention). The study was conducted over 10 weeks, using intact groups. The dependent variables were exercise behavior, and self-efficacy, decisional balance, and the behavioral and cognitive processes of change (all from the Transtheoretical Model). Of the initial 151 people enrolled in the study, 109 (72.2%) returned post-intervention questionnaires and were therefore retained in the study. Retention rates did not differ across groups (p>.30). The majority of participants were female (60.3%), Caucasian (81.5%), and held either freshman or sophomore class standing (80.1%). Participants were, on average, 21.3 (SD = 5.7) years old, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.3 (SD=5.4). The majority of participants were in the preparation stage of change (45.7%), followed by maintenance (35.1%), action (12.6%), contemplation (5.3%), and precontemplation (1.3%). Exercise behavior improved significantly over time (p<.0 1); however, the main effect for groups (p=.06), and the group by time interaction were not significant (p=.31). Significant main effects were observed between groups (p<.01), and over time (p<.01) for the vector of means comprised of self-efficacy, decisional balance, and the cognitive and behavioral processes of change. The group by time interaction for the vector of means was not significant (p=.17). Follow-up F-tests revealed the group differences were due to differences in the cognitive (p<.05) and behavioral (p<.05) processes of change, with no differences observed for either self-efficacy (p=.35) or decisional balance (p=96). Time effects were observed for self-efficacy (p<.05), and the cognitive (p<.001) and behavioral (p<.01)processes of change, with no difference observed on decisional balance (p=.39). While not entirely supportive, the results due suggest some promising strategies for enhancing the efficacy of LFH courses, regardless of delivery format. / Graduation date: 2004

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of untrained and trained peer tutors on the motor performance of students with developmental disabilities in integrated physical education classes. This study utilized a single subject delayed multiple baseline design across subjects. Six elementary age students with developmental disabilities and six nondisabled peer tutors participated in the study. The students were videotaped during their physical education class and data were analyzed on discrete motor skill responses. The students were assigned to one of two protocols. Protocol 1 consisted of three conditions; baseline, assistance by an untrained peer tutor, and assistance by a trained peer tutor. The results of Protocol 1 data revealed that trained peer tutors were effective at assisting subjects with developmental disabilities improve their motor performance, while untrained peer tutors were not. As a result of these findings Protocol 2 which consisted only of baseline and assistance by trained peer tutors, was utilized to replicate and provide additional support for the effect of trained peer tutors. The results of Protocol 2 revealed that trained peer tutors were effective at assisting subjects with developmental disabilities improve their motor performance in integrated physical education classes. Trained peer tutors were provided with instruction in the following three teaching areas: cueing, feedback, and reinforcement. The cueing techniques followed the system of least prompts and included verbal cueing, modeling, and physical assistance. Feedback information consisted of positive general and positive specific reinforcement. Peer tutors were trained over two 30 minute sessions. Pre-established criteria required the peer tutors to implement the teaching behaviors with the researcher a minimum of 4 out 5 times, and receive a score of 90% or better on the peer tutor quiz. All peers were successful at meeting this criteria. Data were collected on the tutors' teaching behaviors throughout the study via a wireless microphone. The results of the peer tutor data revealed that the tutors were able to implement the tutor training program. The results of this study demonstrate that elementary age peer tutors can be trained to provide assistance to students with developmental disabilities in integrated physical education classes. Recommendations for future research are provided based on the results of this study. / Graduation date: 1994

Many Swedish schools collaborate with schools in other countries. This research study focuses teachers’ experiences of transnational school collaboration between Swedish schools and schools in other countries. The aim of the study is to investigate the outcome of such projects and find explanations why teachers make a choice to use international school twinning as a part of their teaching in environmental education. The study concentrates on teachers’ motives for involving their students in transnational school exchange regarding environmental issues. A part of the investigation is also to elucidate how teachers conceive cultural meeting and cooperation that occurs in the context of transnational school exchange projects. The conditions for carrying on such projects are also investigated. The study uses semi-structured interviews with upper secondary school teachers from Sweden and Britain. Most interviews were performed at the respective teachers’ schools. The processing of the interviews consists of transcribing followed by a narrative report and analysis. The investigation shows that the teachers find that their students’ personal development is highly improved by international school exchange both through experiencing a different culture and cooperating with young people from another country. The teachers also believe that their students’ environmental awareness is improved by experiencing investigations and collaboration in another part of the world. The positive effects from the exchange projects are also considered as mutual for the students in both of the cooperating countries.

Environmental problems are seen as the first priority that all countries try to find as a solution to be more sustainable. These issues arise due to the lack of our responsibility to the world. Researchers agree on that the starting point in changing our society to be green is to increase environmental awareness (Jiang et al., 1999). Several sectors accept this idea like UNESCO which focuses on education as a tool to promote sustainable development (UNESCO, 2002).   Following UNESCO, our study investigates university students’ environmental awareness. The Authors hope that the outcome not only reflects university performance, but also helps to develop the environment in the future.  Hence, the authors selected the University of Gävle or HiG, as a case study because it is a best practice in Environmental Management System (EMS). Moreover, HiG received the ISO 14001 certificate and it has a continuous improvement program (Sammalisto, 2007, p.69).    The study was started by reviewing research literatures concerning Environmental Management System (EMS), Sustainable Development (SD), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Environmental Awareness. The authors found that there are few studies talking about students’ awareness in universities after being awarded ISO 14001. Notice that the research was seen only from environmental perspective (Flint, 2004).   To answer research questions, two surveys were adopted. The first part focused on teachers and officers (or staffs) who work on environmental issues. While, the second part focused on the students which were divided into Swedish and international.   The research outcomes indicate that HiG has a good EMS performance supported by annual environmental audits, regular policy revision and the attempts to minimize non-conformities. Conversely, when the authors pointed at student awareness, it shows that students have insufficient environmental knowledge. Moreover, some students have lower environmental awareness and act in a less ecological friendly way. Nevertheless, a knowledge problem was also found among several university staffs. This is because of the lack of communication about environmental issues inside the staffs community and lack of environmental education for students.   Whatever the university situation is, there are some groups of staff and students eager to develop themselves and their university. This point of strength could be the best driving force. It can push the university forward until the university reaches sustainable development and it brings the aware graduates into society.

This thesis explores how three international volunteers taught in rural Indigenous communities in Ecuador. It positions this exploration in the complexities and dilemmas of International aid education (IAE) projects and cross-cultural volunteer teaching. The study uses literature on anti-colonial theories, Indigenous knowledges and culturally relevant teaching (CRT) as a conceptual framework to understanding IVTs perceptions of and approaches towards cross-cultural teaching and its relationship with Indigenous students’ lived experiences. Onsite observations and interviews with international volunteer teachers’ (IVTs) and discussions with local teachers and volunteer program director are used in a cross-comparative analysis, which examines how their teaching was sensitive to and reflective of these Indigenous peoples’ ways of knowing and learning. The findings show that the three IVTs varied greatly in their understanding and enactment of CRT. The thesis concludes by exploring the implications of IAE and sets out recommendations for creating more culturally relevant education for Indigenous students.

This thesis explores how three international volunteers taught in rural Indigenous communities in Ecuador. It positions this exploration in the complexities and dilemmas of International aid education (IAE) projects and cross-cultural volunteer teaching. The study uses literature on anti-colonial theories, Indigenous knowledges and culturally relevant teaching (CRT) as a conceptual framework to understanding IVTs perceptions of and approaches towards cross-cultural teaching and its relationship with Indigenous students’ lived experiences. Onsite observations and interviews with international volunteer teachers’ (IVTs) and discussions with local teachers and volunteer program director are used in a cross-comparative analysis, which examines how their teaching was sensitive to and reflective of these Indigenous peoples’ ways of knowing and learning. The findings show that the three IVTs varied greatly in their understanding and enactment of CRT. The thesis concludes by exploring the implications of IAE and sets out recommendations for creating more culturally relevant education for Indigenous students.

The main aims of the current study are five fold (1) to develop a valid scale for measuring beliefs about education for sustainable development, (2) to adapt the values on sustainable development scale to the context of Turkey, (3) to explore elementary teachers&rsquo / familiarity with and understanding of sustainable development, (4) to determine the elementary teachers&rsquo / values on sustainable development, (5) to investigate their beliefs about education for sustainable development. In addition, the barriers elementary teachers have perceived regarding education for sustainable development, teaching strategies they have used in education for sustainable development and the possible relationship between barriers they have perceived and their beliefs about education for sustainable development was examined. The data of this study obtained from 211 elementary teachers who enrolled in the Green Pack and the Eco-Schools projects via direct administration and web-survey data collection methods in May to September 2012. The results revealed that Turkish elementary teachers lack of sufficient understandings of sustainable development. On the other hand, elementary teachers have favorable beliefs about education for sustainable development and favorable values on sustainable development. In addition, lack of the knowledge about sustainable development and lack of the knowledge about teaching sustainable development were relatively common barriers for these elementary teachers. Lastly, negative correlation between elementary teachers&rsquo / beliefs about education for sustainable development and barriers they have perceived was found.

The aim of the study is to analyse the learning process of the Dorze weaving in Ethiopia and its implications on Education for Sustainable Development, ESD. My two main questions are: 1. How do the Dorze understand their learning process in weaving? 2. What conclusions concerning education for sustainable development applied on textile handicraft can be drawn from the findings of my case study?   In order to answer these questions I have made a field study on the Dorze (the weavers) in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia for 10 weeks. The study has a socio-cultural and narrative approach and the method used are interviews, observations and review of documents. The result is presented in a “metastory” where I retell the stories and introduce the results of the study and that gives answers to question 1. UNESCO’s recommendations on ESD are used to analyse the findings and give the answer to question 2. The result shows that the learning process depends on the environment with its people, who have gathered knowledge of raw material and techniques for generations but the latter also needs to develop to meet new challenges. “Shiro Meda” is the centre of learning. To grow up in “Shiro Meda” it becomes natural to work with textile production, accept a special lifestyle with clear gender differences and a hierarchical structure. The educational model of spinning and twisting are “learning by doing”, whereas young boys start practising weaving under the leadership of an older teacher step by step.   From an ESD perspective the Dorze education is holistic, practical, individualized, and contains some problem solving even if the students are not participating in decisions on how they learn. The education is highly integrated in the daily life of the weaving community and is also relevant to the surrounding local community. Moreover the education transfers a historical legacy of cultural continuity, and has shown itself to be dynamic and adaptable to change. A weakness in this traditional knowledge system is the low profit the weavers are making and the set hierarchical and gender rules which need to be developed in order to be sustainable for future challenges. The final discussion highlights the relevance of my findings for a Swedish learning context. / 2010ht4661

After the introduction of the term,  sustainable development, a variety of  academicians from different disciplines tried to conceptualize it in their own way, drawing on these views, many different degrees but with similar titles have been established in many universities all around the world. Masters  program in  Sustainable Development  (MSD) at Uppsala University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) is one the most recent ones. Before starting this study, it was investigated that the expectations of the different actors in this program are not fulfilled completely. Presence of many different ideas and perspectives in addition to the high number of actors involved in the situation made the situation too complex to be fixed easily. Therefore, the Soft Systems Methodology (SSM), as an appropriate approach for improving complex problematic situations,  is  used to reform the organization of  the  MSD in coming years. The process of identifying the  challenges of this program and then  improving some of them in  practice  are described in this thesis. Alongside the  action phase, the applications of Systems Approach in transformation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) are explored.  It is investigated that three levels of learning, i.e. basic, meta-  and epistemic learning, and accordingly three levels of organizational change, i.e. the first, second and third order, need to be recognized, if an ESD program is to be different from the unsustainable trends of education.