Despite a long lineage, the considerable body of literature on experiential learning is extensively a post 80’s phenomenon (Mulligan and Griffin, 1992). fey critiquing this body of literature it is possible to simultaneously destabilise the orthodox, 'hegemonic constructivist paradigm that posits a centrality of the learner, and identify several neglected areas which can be traced back to a philosophical heredity. In addressing these neglected areas this paper outlines the development of a richer conception of experiential learning that extends ‘beyond the usual definitions and arguments’ (Rickards, 2007: 430), bringing theory and practice together in a way that has been hitherto unseen in the existing body of literature (Nichol, 2002; Norris, 2006; Rickards, 2007). The research fieldwork, conducted to date over a period of over fifteen years, adopts a mode two research approach (Tranfield and Starkey, 1998), appropriate to the broad, multidisciplinary nature of experiential learning (Dillon, 2007). Through a complex synthesis of research material, published to date in a range of scholarly and practitioner journals, a significant milieu of emerging ,‘themes’ are identified and classified using a relational, multiple layered integration of theory and practice that culminates in a framework presented as an abstract, visual metaphor. This research acknowledges the intentionality of design, and considers the learner as a fully embodied self, sensuously and intersubjectively interacting with their outer world (Abram, 1997). The final framework is develops an interconnectedness of the outer and inner world experiences of the learner that suggestively links a number of concepts. The framework is recognised across a range of disciplines as grounded in solid and varied theory designed to be pedagogically useful to both novice and experienced practitioners.

The most important aspect of good supervision is said to be the relationship, yet we know little about what type of relationship may support the learning process in supervision. The aim of this project was to explore the current literature on, and the learning process within Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) supervision, which is widely acknowledged for its focus on developing attuned interactions. This is a relatively under-researched area both within the VIG literature and in the wider supervision literature more generally, where there is little mention of VIG as a potential supervisory model or approach. Due to the limited literature and research on VIG and supervision the systematic review widened the search to explore the impact of the use of video to support care giver-child interactions. Results suggested that there were short term effects on the interaction, although the long term effects were unclear. The following research asked two questions a) what kind of learning occurs within VIG supervision, and b) what type of supervision brings this about. Seven VIG facilitators, training to become VIG guiders were interviewed on their supervision sessions. VIG supervision was described as qualitatively different from more process driven supervision which was generally viewed as being less meaningful, beneficial and supportive. The types of learning that were supported are discussed.

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This study focuses on limited English students’ cognitive engagement generated through learning interactions with others and tasks under a content-driven and discovery-oriented CLIL learning arrangement in a primary school setting. The main aims are: to explore students’ capability to access and inhabit learning spaces within the L2 mediated discourse; to investigate the potential the CLIL learning experience has to sustain dialogic learning and thinking of a higher order; and finally, to make a contribution to the debate over the potential of the CLIL learning experience to promote deep learning and foster life-long learning competencies. At the heart of its theoretical underpinning lies the idea that cognition develops through the merging of the social with the individual which points towards the need to corroborate a socio-cognitive theoretical framework. Thus, the investigation is conceptualised within the ‘inter-mental development zone’ (Mercer and Littleton, 2007), under the auspices of dialogic learning (Wells, 2001b), and in cognisance of the individual’s active construction of knowledge (Bruner, 1985; van Dijk’s, 2006a). This theoretical line originates in the, now, classic theoretical constructs of Zone of Proximal Development and the More Knowledgeable Other from Vygotsky (1978), and the notion of scaffolding from Wood, Bruner and Ross (1976). With regard to the methodological design, this explorative study falls under the qualitative paradigm within the boundaries of a case study, and corroborates close observations of the learning behaviours with introspective methods. A multilayered analysis is employed which allows elements from various contextual layers and dimensions to enrich the analytical insight. In addition, a fine grained-analysis is pursued regarding the dynamics as well as the substance of the learning events, which conveys a systematic and holistic investigation of the learning phenomenon. The findings of this study suggest that the CLIL approach be regarded as a learning interaction of three foci whereby alongside content-grounded and language-oriented strands run equally well-represented management-of-the-learning strands. Further, it is proposed that a reasonable level of ambiguity stemming from presenting content in the medium of a foreign language and from exposing students to new intriguing facts, prompts cognitive conflict thus giving rise to explorative conversational digressions which bring added cognitive value to the peer-sustained learning interaction. Moreover, this investigation also highlights the complementarity between conversational and instructional units on three levels of cognitive engagement (propositional, linguistic and managerial). Finally, an ability to activate and manipulate different manifestations of knowledge is documented. If this ability would be nurtured long-term, then a disposition for inquiry and criticality as well as an enhanced metacognitive awareness can develop which may translate into skills transferable across the curriculum. Overall, the study recommends the CLIL approach as a rich cognitive medium for learning, and an asset for promoting quality learning with the specification that its implementation needs careful context-bound consideration.

This thesis explores the nature of the self and how the various self-perception constructs – self-esteem, self-concept, and self-efficacy – contribute to academic functioning. The research was undertaken in three stages. The first was designed to examine how the self is represented. Bandura’s Multidimensional Scales of Perceived Self-Efficacy (1990) and Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (1988) were utilised to examine the extent to which self-efficacy and competency-related elements of the self-concept are independent constructs. Factor analysis of data provided by secondary school students revealed that when measured using domain-specific measures such as these, self-efficacy and competency self-concept do not represent totally separate, distinct aspects of the self. The second stage was designed to examine how representations of the self relate to academic performance, intrinsic motivation, and occupational and educational aspirations. Taking account of past academic performance and other factors that might impact on the self-perception–academic outcome relationship, self-efficacy was shown to be a better predictor of these outcomes than either of the other two self constructs. Self-esteem was the least predictive. These findings suggest that self-efficacy and self-concept, but not selfesteem, are important for the development of academic functioning. The third stage of this research was designed to examine whether interventions can have a positive effect on how the self is represented, and if so, whether this also impacts on academic functioning. This thesis used a widely-used and Government-supported intervention programme to explore this issue in a real-world context. There were positive effects on some aspects of self-concept but not on any other variables. These effects were not associated with any changes in the academic outcomes. The reasons why this intervention did not have a wider impact are explored, and the practical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. This research provides a clearer understanding about where educators and education policy-makers should focus their efforts if the aim is to enhance self-related perceptions in school.

Children’s failure to re-use knowledge will continue to be problematic until processes that contribute to conceptual growth are better understood. The notion that conceptual knowledge, soundly constructed and reinforced, forms the basis of future learning, as the learner uses it unproblematically to make sense of new situations in related areas, is appealing. This thesis will show this to be an overly simplistic view of learning, failing to take sufficient account of fine-grained processes that contribute to the micro-evolution of knowledge and of connections between cognition and other factors. Much previous research focused on abstraction as key to learning. This thesis examines the role of abstraction in the development of mathematics concepts by children aged 8-9 years, using negative numbers as a window on their development of knowledge in a new domain. The assumption, prevalent in the literature, that abstraction is a requirement for transfer of knowledge is questioned. Three research questions are explored: 1. What resources shape the nature of transfer and the growth of knowledge about negative numbers? 2. What is the role of the interplay of resources in the microtransfer of knowledge about negative numbers? 3. What is the relationship between abstracting and transferring knowledge about negative numbers? Methodology is based on a case study approach, initially recording the work of 3 small groups of children throughout a series of tasks and using progressive focusing techniques to create two case studies which are analysed in depth. The thesis reports how the extent of conceptual development about negative numbers was influenced by interpersonal and intrapersonal learner characteristics, and describes a complex interplay between cognitive and affective factors. Micro-transfer and intermediate abstractions, and reinforcement of the connections that these construct, are found to be crucial for conceptual growth, though abstraction is not a condition for transfer at the micro-level.

In post-traditional societies, identity has been pervasively understood as a ‘thing’ one needs to and can endeavour to achieve or create. Many studies about identity in the humanities and social sciences have increasingly been approached in both reified and impersonal ways. These trends in understanding identity have made a significant impact on research into education and identity. This thesis aims to demonstrate the complexity of personal identity on a theoretical level and endeavours to rethink the theoretical understanding of personal identity in relation to the notion of learning. Based on Paul Ricoeur and Charles Taylor’s theories of personal identity, this thesis argues that personal identity needs to be understood both as sameness and as selfhood at a conceptual level. Ontologically, the former belongs to the category of ‘thing’, ‘substance’ in terms of permanence in time. The latter belongs the category of ‘being’ in terms of permanence in time. This thesis will argue that this conceptual understanding of personal identity suggests that identity is largely ‘shaped’ by social, cultural, traditional, moral and ethical dimensions in the human world over time, rather than merely being a result of personal endeavour as an individual creation or/and an adaptation to constant social changes. The moral and ethical dimensions of personal identity also suggest that the need for and ‘meaning’ of personal identity to a person in his/her life cannot be simply approached in an objective manner through impersonal terms. Rather, personal identity constitutively depends on self-interpretation, which highlights the role of narrative in understanding personal identity. This thesis further argues that a new understanding about reflexive learning relevant to personal identity can be drawn from this theoretical understanding of personal identity and narrative. This new understanding is based on a person’s reflexivity not only in the dialectical frameworks between sameness, self and others, but also in different moral frameworks. What this presents us with is a different view of lifelong learning as an alternative to lifelong learning implied in the notion of a ‘reflexive project of the self’.

This study was directed to explore the practicability of play therapy as a support system to primary schools in order to offer the child an optimal learning opportunity. A need exists to support primary schools, to establish therapeutic services which will be available to all children with emotional, behaviour and social problems. Gestalt play therapy can be used as a source of support within the context of the primary school. It is important that the therapist and teacher have sufficient knowledge around the different developmental phases of the child. In this study the focus was on the general characteristics, cognitive, social- and moral development of the primary school child. A qualitative approach and by utilizing semi-structured interviews, were used in order to collect the data concerning the study. Results from the empirical research indicated that there is a definite necessity for therapeutic services, as support systems at primary schools, in order to assist the child to reach his/her maximum potential. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)

This study was directed to explore the practicability of play therapy as a support system to primary schools in order to offer the child an optimal learning opportunity. A need exists to support primary schools, to establish therapeutic services which will be available to all children with emotional, behaviour and social problems. Gestalt play therapy can be used as a source of support within the context of the primary school. It is important that the therapist and teacher have sufficient knowledge around the different developmental phases of the child. In this study the focus was on the general characteristics, cognitive, social- and moral development of the primary school child. A qualitative approach and by utilizing semi-structured interviews, were used in order to collect the data concerning the study. Results from the empirical research indicated that there is a definite necessity for therapeutic services, as support systems at primary schools, in order to assist the child to reach his/her maximum potential. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Spelterapie)