This thesis explores how the inclusion of students’ out-of-school literacies in a secondary English classroom affects students’ engagement, motivation, and sense of community. A mixed case study and action research approach was used in which the researcher taught a semester long multi-grade senior English class which used hip hop as its core content. Data was collected using audio field notes, focus group, one-on-one interviews, and written communication. Findings revealed that students felt the inclusion of hip hop made this English class more relevant and meaningful to the students and helped to foster a strong sense of community among the class members. This study also found that student-directed curriculum, teacher vulnerability, and the inclusion of community members as mentors were very important to the students’ sense of community. This sense of community, however, did not extend beyond the classroom. / Graduate

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<p>This paper uses evidence from a small-scale interview of five primary school principals within the Stockholm Municipality to examine their focus on student learning. To facilitate this analysis, four questions were addressed:</p><p>• What are the expectations principals have of learning for their students?</p><p>• Has there been a change in perception of learning in the 21st Century?</p><p>• How do principals think they have influence on student learning?</p><p>• How do principals see their role towards lifelong learning?</p><p>This thesis argues that we have to redefine learning for the 21st Century through emphasizing a more holistic approach to both teaching and learning and by paying more attention to learning outcomes. It explores contemporary trends in leadership education and connects them to the literature. In practice, the study uses two models, instructional leadership and transformational leadership, to integrate the the data collected. It proposes that school principals play a part in student learning through their roles of setting directions, developing people and developing the organisation.</p><p>The main results showed that the principals and vice-principals who participated in the study were aware of their roles in student learning. However, their roles were not immediately identifiable with a particular leadership style but a combination of styles. They realised that they did not encourage lifelong learning, which is an important component of 21st Century learning.</p><p>Key Words:</p><p>21st Century learning, lifelong learning, learning expectations, learning outcomes, leadership styles, instructional leadership, transformational leadership, cultural change leadership.</p>

This paper uses evidence from a small-scale interview of five primary school principals within the Stockholm Municipality to examine their focus on student learning. To facilitate this analysis, four questions were addressed: • What are the expectations principals have of learning for their students? • Has there been a change in perception of learning in the 21st Century? • How do principals think they have influence on student learning? • How do principals see their role towards lifelong learning? This thesis argues that we have to redefine learning for the 21st Century through emphasizing a more holistic approach to both teaching and learning and by paying more attention to learning outcomes. It explores contemporary trends in leadership education and connects them to the literature. In practice, the study uses two models, instructional leadership and transformational leadership, to integrate the the data collected. It proposes that school principals play a part in student learning through their roles of setting directions, developing people and developing the organisation. The main results showed that the principals and vice-principals who participated in the study were aware of their roles in student learning. However, their roles were not immediately identifiable with a particular leadership style but a combination of styles. They realised that they did not encourage lifelong learning, which is an important component of 21st Century learning. Key Words: 21st Century learning, lifelong learning, learning expectations, learning outcomes, leadership styles, instructional leadership, transformational leadership, cultural change leadership.

This research study was designed to explore the effectiveness of pedagogical practices on student literacy learning within a student television context. The study was undertaken in response to practitioner inquiry into the value and worth of school television for student literacy learning. Over the research period this project evolved into a deeply reflective self-study of teaching practice within a technological environment. This research took place in a suburban primary school where school television had been created by students for the previous two years. Twenty-two students aged between 10 and 12 participated in three cycles of action research to investigate how pedagogy influences learning within this context. A range of pedagogical actions designed to influence students’ critical thinking were implemented into action research cycles. The selection of actions for intervention was influenced by an investigation into current literature from the field, and an analysis of existing multi-literacy learning, pedagogical conditions and student views of teaching and learning within student television at the beginning of the research cycles. This study gathered information during research cycles using student learning conversations and student interviews, which provided insight into learning from the point of view of students. Supporting this information were daily researcher observations and end-of-cycle interviews with classroom teachers. Through careful monitoring, analysis and reflection on each research cycle it was clear that strategic pedagogical interventions did positively influence multi-literacy learning. Rather than attempt to measure differences in student learning, this study explored how multi-literacy learning, strategic pedagogy and learning within student television inter-related with one another. This research study identified and explored the complex inter-relationships between pedagogies and multi-literacy learning.

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Students are not adequately prepared to contribute to the workforce or engage in global citizenship in the 21st century. Research indicates proper education of students cannot be accomplished without teachers' acceptance of technology in the classroom, engagement in effective professional development, and ability to transform their curricula. Although there is an abundance of research supporting the use of technology in the classroom, little research has examined how to incorporate the technology into student-centered learning. The research questions in this study examined teachers' use and acceptance of technology in the classroom and how teachers incorporate technology to meet the 21st century learning skills requirements. This qualitative case study used Bandura's social cognitive theory and the Partnership for 21st Century Learning Framework. The purposeful sample included 6 participants teaching in Grades 9-12. Data were gathered using a selection survey, interviews, and course documents. The data analysis included the organization of participant responses and development of 6 primary themes. The results indicated that a high level of technology self-efficacy drove these teachers' integration of technology into student-centered activities that built 21st century learning skills. The results also showed a lack of effective professional development provided to teachers that focused on incorporating technology into the curriculum. These findings are significant for educators to understand how to meet the learning needs of their students. Implications for positive change include providing educators with knowledge and understanding of the importance to design professional development opportunities for teachers that not only teach how to use the technologies available to them but to also teach how to effectively incorporate that technology into the learning process.

The major aims of this paper are to: present the background of the mathematics education problem in the Stamford Public School (SPS) district which is common is most U.S cities; explain the need for change in mathematics education; describe the process to systemically transform both the curriculum and instruction of mathematics thereby ensuring that each and every students is prepared for the 21st century, for higher education, and for success in a global society; and provide ways to measure these changes. The K-12 mathematics education reform model presented can be replicated in other cities and for other academic areas.

The major aims of this paper are to: present the background of the mathematics education problem in the Stamford Public School (SPS) district which is common is most U.S cities; explain the need for change in mathematics education; describe the process to systemically transform both the curriculum and instruction of mathematics thereby ensuring that each and every students is prepared for the 21st century, for higher education, and for success in a global society; and provide ways to measure these changes. The K-12 mathematics education reform model presented can be replicated in other cities and for other academic areas.

No description available.