<p>Mitt syfte med undersökningen är att konstruera en modell för bedömning av elevtexter. Bedömningsmodellen ska vara kapabel att ge både en helhetsbild och en detaljbild av elevers diskursiva analytiska förmåga. Min utgångspunkt vid konstruktionen av bedömningsmodellen var bland annat Judith Langers föreställningsvärld och John Biggs SOLO-taxonomi. För att testa min bedömningsmodell samlade jag in elevtexter från naturvetarprogrammet på en gymnasieskola i Södertälje kommun. Texterna är inhämtade från två ämnen, Svenska A och Svenska C, och består av essäer. Resultatet av min undersökning blev en bedömningsmatris som granskar texterna utifrån fyra aspekter; struktur, språk och stil, argumentation och reflektion. Bedömningsmatrisen fungerar emellertid bättre som ett vertyg för uppskattning av texter än som ett vertyg för bedömning. Den ger tillräcklig information hur eleverna ligger till enligt kursplanerna för Svenska A respektive C inom dessa fyra aspekter, och utifrån de resultaten kan läraren se vad varje enskild elev klarar av och inte klarar av och kan planera lektionerna därefter.</p>

Mitt syfte med undersökningen är att konstruera en modell för bedömning av elevtexter. Bedömningsmodellen ska vara kapabel att ge både en helhetsbild och en detaljbild av elevers diskursiva analytiska förmåga. Min utgångspunkt vid konstruktionen av bedömningsmodellen var bland annat Judith Langers föreställningsvärld och John Biggs SOLO-taxonomi. För att testa min bedömningsmodell samlade jag in elevtexter från naturvetarprogrammet på en gymnasieskola i Södertälje kommun. Texterna är inhämtade från två ämnen, Svenska A och Svenska C, och består av essäer. Resultatet av min undersökning blev en bedömningsmatris som granskar texterna utifrån fyra aspekter; struktur, språk och stil, argumentation och reflektion. Bedömningsmatrisen fungerar emellertid bättre som ett vertyg för uppskattning av texter än som ett vertyg för bedömning. Den ger tillräcklig information hur eleverna ligger till enligt kursplanerna för Svenska A respektive C inom dessa fyra aspekter, och utifrån de resultaten kan läraren se vad varje enskild elev klarar av och inte klarar av och kan planera lektionerna därefter.

Os temas da geodiversidade e geoconservação emergem no século XXI como contribuições das geociências para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Precedido por duas grandes guerras mundiais no século XX, bem como pela intensa industrialização do mundo e dos impactos ambientais advindos da mesma, o século XXI é marcado pela urgência de mudança nos padrões de desenvolvimento do século passado. O gigantismo urbano, os colapsos socioambientais e a intensa ocupação da geosfera, apontam para a necessidade da culturalização dos temas relacionados à Terra, em especial, da sua conservação. Nesse cenário, o papel das geociências começa a ser rebalanceado entre suas funções tradicionais de localização e exploração dos bens da litosfera e suas possibilidades novas de atuação no desenvolvimento sustentável. Emergentes das novas áreas e papéis das geociências, são propostos os conceitos da geodiversidade – e de suas funções ecossistêmicas fundamentais para a sociedade moderna -, bem como são desenvolvidas estratégias para aplicação da conservação da Terra, a geoconservação. Embora a atenção para as peculiaridades das geoformas e para a importância da conservação dessas seja antiga, estratégias de geoconservação ganharam espaço na gestão patrimonial e ambiental apenas a partir dos anos 1990 e, desde então, metodologias vêm sendo construídas para dar suporte técnico-científico para tais ações. O objetivo do presente trabalho é apresentar contribuições metodológicas para geoconservação em ambientes urbanos, especificamente pela valoração integrada de unidades geológicas com base na análise de seis mapas temáticos do município de Porto Alegre e pela proposição de uma matriz de valoração ponderada que relaciona 12 indicadores geopaisagísticos com as 26 unidades geológicas locais. Também são propostos 13 geossítios encadeados como itinerários geológicos que permitem evidenciar a história geológica da região. Por fim, o estudo propõe os Itinerários Geológicos de Porto Alegre como tecnologia socioeducativa para auxiliar a conexão das pessoas com a paisagem onde vivem, estimulando assim, a gestão de ambientes urbanos populosos por meio de uma geoconservação cultural. / The themes of geodiversity and geoconservation arise in the XXI century as contributions of geosciences to sustainable development. Preceded by two world wars in the XX century, as well as by the intense industrialization of the world and its environmental impacts, the XXI century is marked by the urgency of changes in the development patterns of the last century. The gigantic urban realm, the social and environmental collapses, and the intense occupation of the geosphere, point out the urgent culturalization of issues related to Earth, in particular its conservation. In this context, the role of geosciences begins to be rebalanced between their traditional functions of location and exploitation of the lithosphere goods and its new possibilities for acting on sustainable development. Emerging from the new areas and roles of geosciences, the geodiversity concept has been proposed - and its fundamental ecosystem functions for modern society -, as well as strategies have been developed for Earth conservation application, the geoconservation. Although attentions to the peculiarities of landforms and the importance of conserving it are old, geoconservation strategies gained ground in the patrimonial and environmental management only from the years 1990 and, since then, methodologies have been built to provide technical and scientific support for such actions. The objective of this paper is to present methodological contributions to geoconservation in urban environments, specifically by the integrated valuation of geological units based on the analysis of six thematic maps of Porto Alegre county and by the proposition of a weighted valuation matrix that relates 12 geolandscape indicators applied to 26 local geological units. In addition, 13 geosites are linked in terms of geological itineraries that allow reflecting regional geological history. Finally, the study proposes the Geological Itineraries of Porto Alegre as a socioeducational technology to help connect urban citizens with the landscape in which they live, thus stimulating the management of populated urban environments through a cultural geoconservation.

Os temas da geodiversidade e geoconservação emergem no século XXI como contribuições das geociências para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Precedido por duas grandes guerras mundiais no século XX, bem como pela intensa industrialização do mundo e dos impactos ambientais advindos da mesma, o século XXI é marcado pela urgência de mudança nos padrões de desenvolvimento do século passado. O gigantismo urbano, os colapsos socioambientais e a intensa ocupação da geosfera, apontam para a necessidade da culturalização dos temas relacionados à Terra, em especial, da sua conservação. Nesse cenário, o papel das geociências começa a ser rebalanceado entre suas funções tradicionais de localização e exploração dos bens da litosfera e suas possibilidades novas de atuação no desenvolvimento sustentável. Emergentes das novas áreas e papéis das geociências, são propostos os conceitos da geodiversidade – e de suas funções ecossistêmicas fundamentais para a sociedade moderna -, bem como são desenvolvidas estratégias para aplicação da conservação da Terra, a geoconservação. Embora a atenção para as peculiaridades das geoformas e para a importância da conservação dessas seja antiga, estratégias de geoconservação ganharam espaço na gestão patrimonial e ambiental apenas a partir dos anos 1990 e, desde então, metodologias vêm sendo construídas para dar suporte técnico-científico para tais ações. O objetivo do presente trabalho é apresentar contribuições metodológicas para geoconservação em ambientes urbanos, especificamente pela valoração integrada de unidades geológicas com base na análise de seis mapas temáticos do município de Porto Alegre e pela proposição de uma matriz de valoração ponderada que relaciona 12 indicadores geopaisagísticos com as 26 unidades geológicas locais. Também são propostos 13 geossítios encadeados como itinerários geológicos que permitem evidenciar a história geológica da região. Por fim, o estudo propõe os Itinerários Geológicos de Porto Alegre como tecnologia socioeducativa para auxiliar a conexão das pessoas com a paisagem onde vivem, estimulando assim, a gestão de ambientes urbanos populosos por meio de uma geoconservação cultural. / The themes of geodiversity and geoconservation arise in the XXI century as contributions of geosciences to sustainable development. Preceded by two world wars in the XX century, as well as by the intense industrialization of the world and its environmental impacts, the XXI century is marked by the urgency of changes in the development patterns of the last century. The gigantic urban realm, the social and environmental collapses, and the intense occupation of the geosphere, point out the urgent culturalization of issues related to Earth, in particular its conservation. In this context, the role of geosciences begins to be rebalanced between their traditional functions of location and exploitation of the lithosphere goods and its new possibilities for acting on sustainable development. Emerging from the new areas and roles of geosciences, the geodiversity concept has been proposed - and its fundamental ecosystem functions for modern society -, as well as strategies have been developed for Earth conservation application, the geoconservation. Although attentions to the peculiarities of landforms and the importance of conserving it are old, geoconservation strategies gained ground in the patrimonial and environmental management only from the years 1990 and, since then, methodologies have been built to provide technical and scientific support for such actions. The objective of this paper is to present methodological contributions to geoconservation in urban environments, specifically by the integrated valuation of geological units based on the analysis of six thematic maps of Porto Alegre county and by the proposition of a weighted valuation matrix that relates 12 geolandscape indicators applied to 26 local geological units. In addition, 13 geosites are linked in terms of geological itineraries that allow reflecting regional geological history. Finally, the study proposes the Geological Itineraries of Porto Alegre as a socioeducational technology to help connect urban citizens with the landscape in which they live, thus stimulating the management of populated urban environments through a cultural geoconservation.

Os temas da geodiversidade e geoconservação emergem no século XXI como contribuições das geociências para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Precedido por duas grandes guerras mundiais no século XX, bem como pela intensa industrialização do mundo e dos impactos ambientais advindos da mesma, o século XXI é marcado pela urgência de mudança nos padrões de desenvolvimento do século passado. O gigantismo urbano, os colapsos socioambientais e a intensa ocupação da geosfera, apontam para a necessidade da culturalização dos temas relacionados à Terra, em especial, da sua conservação. Nesse cenário, o papel das geociências começa a ser rebalanceado entre suas funções tradicionais de localização e exploração dos bens da litosfera e suas possibilidades novas de atuação no desenvolvimento sustentável. Emergentes das novas áreas e papéis das geociências, são propostos os conceitos da geodiversidade – e de suas funções ecossistêmicas fundamentais para a sociedade moderna -, bem como são desenvolvidas estratégias para aplicação da conservação da Terra, a geoconservação. Embora a atenção para as peculiaridades das geoformas e para a importância da conservação dessas seja antiga, estratégias de geoconservação ganharam espaço na gestão patrimonial e ambiental apenas a partir dos anos 1990 e, desde então, metodologias vêm sendo construídas para dar suporte técnico-científico para tais ações. O objetivo do presente trabalho é apresentar contribuições metodológicas para geoconservação em ambientes urbanos, especificamente pela valoração integrada de unidades geológicas com base na análise de seis mapas temáticos do município de Porto Alegre e pela proposição de uma matriz de valoração ponderada que relaciona 12 indicadores geopaisagísticos com as 26 unidades geológicas locais. Também são propostos 13 geossítios encadeados como itinerários geológicos que permitem evidenciar a história geológica da região. Por fim, o estudo propõe os Itinerários Geológicos de Porto Alegre como tecnologia socioeducativa para auxiliar a conexão das pessoas com a paisagem onde vivem, estimulando assim, a gestão de ambientes urbanos populosos por meio de uma geoconservação cultural. / The themes of geodiversity and geoconservation arise in the XXI century as contributions of geosciences to sustainable development. Preceded by two world wars in the XX century, as well as by the intense industrialization of the world and its environmental impacts, the XXI century is marked by the urgency of changes in the development patterns of the last century. The gigantic urban realm, the social and environmental collapses, and the intense occupation of the geosphere, point out the urgent culturalization of issues related to Earth, in particular its conservation. In this context, the role of geosciences begins to be rebalanced between their traditional functions of location and exploitation of the lithosphere goods and its new possibilities for acting on sustainable development. Emerging from the new areas and roles of geosciences, the geodiversity concept has been proposed - and its fundamental ecosystem functions for modern society -, as well as strategies have been developed for Earth conservation application, the geoconservation. Although attentions to the peculiarities of landforms and the importance of conserving it are old, geoconservation strategies gained ground in the patrimonial and environmental management only from the years 1990 and, since then, methodologies have been built to provide technical and scientific support for such actions. The objective of this paper is to present methodological contributions to geoconservation in urban environments, specifically by the integrated valuation of geological units based on the analysis of six thematic maps of Porto Alegre county and by the proposition of a weighted valuation matrix that relates 12 geolandscape indicators applied to 26 local geological units. In addition, 13 geosites are linked in terms of geological itineraries that allow reflecting regional geological history. Finally, the study proposes the Geological Itineraries of Porto Alegre as a socioeducational technology to help connect urban citizens with the landscape in which they live, thus stimulating the management of populated urban environments through a cultural geoconservation.

<p>The Swedish Aviation Safety Authority has decided to standardise a classification system for reporting deviations found in inspections. The purpose of a classification system is that similar deviations always should be reported in the same way since this will enable better decisions regarding different risk areas. The inspectors are therefore constrained to use a standardised classification system and are not free to use their own words when reporting deviations. A hierarchal classification system with predefined phrases is in aviation referred to as taxonomy. Taxonomy is already in use when reporting accidents and incidents but not when reporting deviations found in inspections. If the taxonomy also could be implemented when reporting deviations found in inspections it would make it possible to find out what kind of accident or incident the deviation has been involved in. To make this connection possible and to enable further analyses the information has to be stored, preferably in a database. </p><p>We have examined the already existing taxonomy and its usability in inspection reporting. Were the old taxonomy has been found insufficient we have examined how to build up a new suitable taxonomy. We have also begun the extension of the taxonomy in certain domains in aviation. To be able to test the extended taxonomy we have developed a system support that consists of a database and help functions consisting of checklists and linked regulation text. The system support also contains risk assessment matrixes. </p><p>We have through this work seen that a great extension of the existing taxonomy is necessary. As the taxonomy is formed it is hard to make direct connections between accidents/incidents and deviations found in inspections without a mapping tool. However we think that a database management system should be implemented in inspections. A database management system would be a useful help for the inspectors and enable easier access to data for analyses.</p>

The Swedish Aviation Safety Authority has decided to standardise a classification system for reporting deviations found in inspections. The purpose of a classification system is that similar deviations always should be reported in the same way since this will enable better decisions regarding different risk areas. The inspectors are therefore constrained to use a standardised classification system and are not free to use their own words when reporting deviations. A hierarchal classification system with predefined phrases is in aviation referred to as taxonomy. Taxonomy is already in use when reporting accidents and incidents but not when reporting deviations found in inspections. If the taxonomy also could be implemented when reporting deviations found in inspections it would make it possible to find out what kind of accident or incident the deviation has been involved in. To make this connection possible and to enable further analyses the information has to be stored, preferably in a database. We have examined the already existing taxonomy and its usability in inspection reporting. Were the old taxonomy has been found insufficient we have examined how to build up a new suitable taxonomy. We have also begun the extension of the taxonomy in certain domains in aviation. To be able to test the extended taxonomy we have developed a system support that consists of a database and help functions consisting of checklists and linked regulation text. The system support also contains risk assessment matrixes. We have through this work seen that a great extension of the existing taxonomy is necessary. As the taxonomy is formed it is hard to make direct connections between accidents/incidents and deviations found in inspections without a mapping tool. However we think that a database management system should be implemented in inspections. A database management system would be a useful help for the inspectors and enable easier access to data for analyses.

In South Africa, the unsustainable use of natural resources by domestic livestock has led to resource depletion and serious land degradation. Rangeland degradation, especially bush encroachment and soil erosion, is particularly acute in the North-West Province, where all districts show signs of desertification and a loss of biodiversity resulting in a deterioration of human and animal health. This has a major impact on livestock productivity and the economic viability of livestock farming with serious consequences for the livelihoods of pastoral communities. It is important to recognise ecological change before irreversible changes occur. The aim of this study, which falls within the Global Environmental Facility Desert Margins Programme (GEF-DMP), was to investigate to what extent vegetation in combination with ant communities can be used as indicators of ecosystem change due to anthropogenic human induced land-use patterns and how can this information be used in land degradation management and biodiversity conservation in the semi-arid western rangelands of Southern Africa. Sites, representing a degradation gradient (relative poor and relative good rangeland condition extremes) within each of three Tribal-, three Commercial- and three Reserve areas, were surveyed. The impacts of these land uses on the herbaceous species composition, woody-, soil- and ant components were evaluated. Both the woody and herbaceous species components reflected the existence of a rangeland condition/degradation gradient across the larger study area. The herbaceous species composition reflected similar degradation tendencies within the Commercial and Reserve land uses, with sites being associated with low rangeland as well as high rangeland condition scores. The tendencies differed between these two land uses based on the woody degradation gradient. The entire Tribal herbaceous- and woody species components showed a transitional shift towards another state, which differed significantly from the Commercial and Reserve land uses. Both the Tribal herbaceous and woody components were associated with low to intermediate rangeland condition ranges, with no significant rangeland condition gradient existing within the Tribal land use. Understanding and quantification of the soil-vegetation dynamics hold important implications for rangeland degradation management. This study provided criteria for selecting the most appropriate measures when incorporating the soil parameters as additive data in the multivariate analyses with the vegetation, ant and nominal environmental data. Different land use practices resulted in different soil patterns, with significant gradients pertaining to the soil stratum and openness/woodiness groups. There was a significant though neglectable difference pertaining to the rangeland condition/degradation gradient based on the soil component. Ants have been extensively used as bio-indicators, also with regard to the monitoring of the environmental effects of rangeland pastoralism. Ant species compositional patterns and functional groups displayed congruent clustering and diversity patterns as those of the vegetation and soil components. In contrast to the vegetation components, ant assemblages did not reflect a degradation gradient, but rather reflected environmental changes (modifications) to the habitat structure and - heterogeneity as a result of different land use disturbances. Both vegetation and ant diversity measures were mainly associated with the Tribal land use. These diversity indices were indicators of habitat complexity, heterogeneity and moderate disturbance, rather than indicators of a rangeland condition/degradation gradient. The diversity patterns are best described by a dichotomy between the humped-shaped productivity/diversity and the habitat complexity/heterogeneity models. Vegetation and ant diversity measures for this study should be considered as environmental indicators of habitat disturbance rather than as biodiversity indicators. It is suggested that vegetation, soil and ant patterns are best described by the state-and-transition model, which encompasses both equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems. The resilient nature of these rangelands, typical of non-equilibrium systems, was reflected by the low to intermediate differences between land uses with regard to the herbaceous, woody, soil and ant components. However, densitydependent coupling of herbivores to key resources resulted in transitional shifts and modification of the vegetation composition and structure within and between land uses, displaying the equilibrium dynamics pertaining to these rangelands. Small disturbances in these rangelands may result in detrimental “snowball” interactive biotic-biotic /abiotic cascades. Spatial heterogeneous patterns within and between land uses as displayed by the vegetation, soil and ant parameters, necessitate that monitoring and management at patch, paddock and landscape scale should be conducted, cautioning against the extrapolation and over simplification of management strategies across all land uses. Because these arid rangelands are linked socio-ecological systems, it is not possible to address biophysical issues associated with land degradation without including the human dimensions. A “Key assessment matrix” is provided for monitoring and management purposes pertaining to land degradation and diversity aspects within and between the different land uses, and can be used by the land user, extension officer and scientist. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Botany))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

In South Africa, the unsustainable use of natural resources by domestic livestock has led to resource depletion and serious land degradation. Rangeland degradation, especially bush encroachment and soil erosion, is particularly acute in the North-West Province, where all districts show signs of desertification and a loss of biodiversity resulting in a deterioration of human and animal health. This has a major impact on livestock productivity and the economic viability of livestock farming with serious consequences for the livelihoods of pastoral communities. It is important to recognise ecological change before irreversible changes occur. The aim of this study, which falls within the Global Environmental Facility Desert Margins Programme (GEF-DMP), was to investigate to what extent vegetation in combination with ant communities can be used as indicators of ecosystem change due to anthropogenic human induced land-use patterns and how can this information be used in land degradation management and biodiversity conservation in the semi-arid western rangelands of Southern Africa. Sites, representing a degradation gradient (relative poor and relative good rangeland condition extremes) within each of three Tribal-, three Commercial- and three Reserve areas, were surveyed. The impacts of these land uses on the herbaceous species composition, woody-, soil- and ant components were evaluated. Both the woody and herbaceous species components reflected the existence of a rangeland condition/degradation gradient across the larger study area. The herbaceous species composition reflected similar degradation tendencies within the Commercial and Reserve land uses, with sites being associated with low rangeland as well as high rangeland condition scores. The tendencies differed between these two land uses based on the woody degradation gradient. The entire Tribal herbaceous- and woody species components showed a transitional shift towards another state, which differed significantly from the Commercial and Reserve land uses. Both the Tribal herbaceous and woody components were associated with low to intermediate rangeland condition ranges, with no significant rangeland condition gradient existing within the Tribal land use. Understanding and quantification of the soil-vegetation dynamics hold important implications for rangeland degradation management. This study provided criteria for selecting the most appropriate measures when incorporating the soil parameters as additive data in the multivariate analyses with the vegetation, ant and nominal environmental data. Different land use practices resulted in different soil patterns, with significant gradients pertaining to the soil stratum and openness/woodiness groups. There was a significant though neglectable difference pertaining to the rangeland condition/degradation gradient based on the soil component. Ants have been extensively used as bio-indicators, also with regard to the monitoring of the environmental effects of rangeland pastoralism. Ant species compositional patterns and functional groups displayed congruent clustering and diversity patterns as those of the vegetation and soil components. In contrast to the vegetation components, ant assemblages did not reflect a degradation gradient, but rather reflected environmental changes (modifications) to the habitat structure and - heterogeneity as a result of different land use disturbances. Both vegetation and ant diversity measures were mainly associated with the Tribal land use. These diversity indices were indicators of habitat complexity, heterogeneity and moderate disturbance, rather than indicators of a rangeland condition/degradation gradient. The diversity patterns are best described by a dichotomy between the humped-shaped productivity/diversity and the habitat complexity/heterogeneity models. Vegetation and ant diversity measures for this study should be considered as environmental indicators of habitat disturbance rather than as biodiversity indicators. It is suggested that vegetation, soil and ant patterns are best described by the state-and-transition model, which encompasses both equilibrium and non-equilibrium systems. The resilient nature of these rangelands, typical of non-equilibrium systems, was reflected by the low to intermediate differences between land uses with regard to the herbaceous, woody, soil and ant components. However, densitydependent coupling of herbivores to key resources resulted in transitional shifts and modification of the vegetation composition and structure within and between land uses, displaying the equilibrium dynamics pertaining to these rangelands. Small disturbances in these rangelands may result in detrimental “snowball” interactive biotic-biotic /abiotic cascades. Spatial heterogeneous patterns within and between land uses as displayed by the vegetation, soil and ant parameters, necessitate that monitoring and management at patch, paddock and landscape scale should be conducted, cautioning against the extrapolation and over simplification of management strategies across all land uses. Because these arid rangelands are linked socio-ecological systems, it is not possible to address biophysical issues associated with land degradation without including the human dimensions. A “Key assessment matrix” is provided for monitoring and management purposes pertaining to land degradation and diversity aspects within and between the different land uses, and can be used by the land user, extension officer and scientist. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Botany))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Prominent definitions and theories of 'Creativity' provide core data for themes that frame the Creative Process Assessment Matrix (CPAM). Its framework is based on Wallas' stages of the creative process and the P theory (Person, thinking Process, Press/Persuasion and Product). The CPAM's structure and content was derived from current, reliable and valid research. Issues relating to assessment procedures, as well as psychological factors (blockers and stimulators) gave rise to the Creative Assessment Test Questionnaire (CATQ#4), containing questions that document creative assessment prerequisites. Recognized creativity tests (Word-Association, Instances and TCT-DP) were evaluated to determine whether they successfully address and test for relevant creative process criteria. Results indicated that all three tests only addressed a minority of CPAM's 60-point criteria. CPAM offers understanding of the environmental impact and influence on creativity, and renders it measurable. Finally, the CPAM measures the setting, sensory stimulation and what postulates the initial spark of creativity. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)