This thesis addresses the internationally recognised problem of transforming classroom teaching that is underpinned by transmissionist epistemologies, especially in the field of mathematics education. A constructivist-related theory of pedagogical reform was derived from the research literature in the fields of teacher cognition and conceptual change theory for the purpose of facilitating the radical reconstruction of teachers' centralist classroom roles and the development of pedagogies aimed at enhancing students' conceptual development. The thesis reports a collaborative action research study which was conducted with a teacher of high school mathematics who attempted to develop a constructivist- oriented teaching approach in his Grade 12 mathematics class.An interpretive research approach (Erickson, 1986) was employed to generate an understanding of the complex network of teacher beliefs and their constraining influence on the radical reform of the teacher's centralist pedagogy. An emergent research focus was the efficacy of the theory of pedagogical reform, especially its underpinning constructivist theory which shaped my discourse with the teacher during the collaborative phase of the study. Data were obtained from classroom participant- observations, teacher and student interviews, the teacher's report on the study, and an application of the repertory grid technique that was designed to investigate the teacher's implicit pedagogical beliefs.The major pedagogical reforms that resulted from the collaborative phase of the study included (1) the teacher's adoption of the role of teacher as learner; and (2) the refinement, rather than radical reform, of his centralist classroom role of teacher as informer. Although the reforms provided enriched opportunities for the development of students' algorithmic abilities, they largely failed to enhance students' mathematical ++ / conceptual development.Interpretive analyses were conducted from multiple constructivist-related perspectives (radical constructivism, social constructivism, critical constructivism) in order to generate a better understanding of the narrow scope of the pedagogical reforms. These analyses revealed (1) that rationalist preconceptions of mathematics and mathematical cognition underpinned important aspects of both the theory of pedagogical reform and the teacher's refined centralist classroom role of teacher as interactive informer, and (2) that the teacher's technical rationality, which was buttressed by personally constraining beliefs, maintained the ascendency of his technical curriculum interests and sustained his centalist classroom role of teacher as controller.The results of this thesis suggest strongly, therefore: (1) that pedagogical reforms which are based largely on a cognitivist theory of constructivism are susceptible to being subsumed by a powerful technical-rationalist ideology, and (2) that the hegemonic nature of this ideology is capable of disempowering reform-minded teachers from realising the practical viability of their constructivist-related ideals.The thesis recommends that future constructivist-related pedagogical reform in high school mathematics be based on a critical constructivist perspective which focuses attention on the curriculum interests that govern teaching and learning activities. In particular, it is recommended that reform-minded teachers establish a Critical classroom discourse which aims to attain a balanced rationality by making visible and subject to critical examination the hidden frames of reference that constitute the prevailing rationality of the traditional mathematics classroom.

This research is a practitioner inquiry into change in concepts in contexts of task based discourse in teacher education classrooms. The particular concepts selected for study are epistemic beliefs about knowledge in history. A hypothesis that there is a relationship between a perception of agency in task based discourse and change in concepts is proposed for research on the basis of a review of Kuhn's arguments for paradigm change and those of others on the problems of convergence of meaning between paradigms.1 Four of five quasi experimental studies conducted find tentative support for the alternative hypothesis and demonstrate how the relationship could be tested in the field. Change in epistemic beliefs from pre-test to post-test is significant in both groups, Control and Experimental, and consistently more and better change with moderate effect sizes is seen in the Experimental groups. A matched pedagogical method, experience of a range of suitable examples, Skemp (1971) was provided to both Control and Experimental groups and this is found to be effective in developing beliefs. The experimental construct, a perception of agency in task based discourse was enhanced in Experimental groups alone, which is used to explain the difference in change. A rubric, the Categories of Beliefs about Knowledge in History, CBKH, is developed and employed to examine responses to open ended questions. Likert Scales are also used and conclusions are drawn with a final quantitative analysis of data. Excerpts from a focus group discussion illustrate the process.

This research is a practitioner inquiry into change in concepts in contexts of task based discourse in teacher education classrooms. The particular concepts selected for study are epistemic beliefs about knowledge in history. A hypothesis that there is a relationship between a perception of agency in task based discourse and change in concepts is proposed for research on the basis of a review of Kuhn's arguments for paradigm change and those of others on the problems of convergence of meaning between paradigms.1 Four of five quasi experimental studies conducted find tentative support for the alternative hypothesis and demonstrate how the relationship could be tested in the field. Change in epistemic beliefs from pre-test to post-test is significant in both groups, Control and Experimental, and consistently more and better change with moderate effect sizes is seen in the Experimental groups. A matched pedagogical method, experience of a range of suitable examples, Skemp (1971) was provided to both Control and Experimental groups and this is found to be effective in developing beliefs. The experimental construct, a perception of agency in task based discourse was enhanced in Experimental groups alone, which is used to explain the difference in change. A rubric, the Categories of Beliefs about Knowledge in History, CBKH, is developed and employed to examine responses to open ended questions. Likert Scales are also used and conclusions are drawn with a final quantitative analysis of data. Excerpts from a focus group discussion illustrate the process.

This study analyzes the kinds of beliefs pre-service elementary mathematics teachers hold about mathematical problem solving, and investigates whether, or not, gender and university attended have any significant effect on their problem solving beliefs. The sample of the present study consisted of 244 senior undergraduate students studying in Elementary Mathematics Teacher Education programs at 5 different universities located in Ankara, Bolu, and Samsun. Data were collected in spring semester of 2005-2006 academic years. Participants completed a survey composed of three parts as demographic information sheet, questionnaire items, and non-routine mathematics problems. The results of the study showed that in general the pre-service elementary mathematics teachers indicated positive beliefs about mathematical problem solving. However, they still had several traditional beliefs related to the importance of computational skills in mathematics education, and following predetermined sequence of steps while solving problems. Moreover, a number of pre-service teachers appeared to highly value problems that are directly related to the mathematics curriculum, and do not require spending too much time. Also, it was found that although the pre-service teachers theoretically appreciated the importance and role of the technology while solving problems, this belief was not apparent in their comments about non-routine problems. In addition to these, the present study indicated that female and male pre-service teachers did not differ in terms of their beliefs about mathematical problem solving. However, the pre-service teachers&rsquo / beliefs showed significant difference when the universities attended was concerned.

Esta dissertação é o resultado da pesquisa que realizamos acerca das crenças subjacentes à teoria metodológica e suas relações com a prática, no âmbito do ensino e aprendizagem de língua estrangeira (LE). Partimos dos questionamentos elaborados por nós desde a Licenciatura, como estudante, até o labor atual como professora de espanhol como língua estrangeira (ELE). No que se refere aos objetivos de nossa pesquisa, procuramos: 1) investigar como a teoria relaciona-se à prática docente, 2) averiguar quais são as crenças mais comuns de professores sobre atuação, papel do docente, materiais didáticos e desenvolvimento da aula, 3) analisar como os procedimentos aplicados revelam as crenças a respeito da teoria e da prática. Justificamos a relevância de nosso estudo ao investigar as representações, crenças ou percepções que tanto os professores quanto os alunos criam sobre uma boa atuação pedagógica e os componentes a ela referidos. Consideramos alguns aspectos filosóficos apresentados por Dewey (1959) referentes à importância da reflexão sobre teoria e prática didática, acerca do fundamento teórico-metodológico relacionado à competência comunicativa, abordagens e métodos expostos por Almeida Filho (2005, 2010) e Richards e Rodgers (2001) bem como as crenças no ensino e aprendizagem explanadas por Barcelos (2004, 2006). As contribuições teóricas apontadas por Barcelos e Vieira Abrahão (2006); Cortés Cárdenas, Cárdenas Beltrán e Nieto Cruz (2013); Eres Fernández (2000, 2009); Figueiredo (2012); Sánchez Pérez (1997, 2009); Sánchez Lobato e Santos Gargallo (2004) embasam nosso estudo. Centramos nossa análise nas características qualitativas e adotamos uma perspectiva etnográfica de estudo de caso. Para a pesquisa de campo foram realizadas entrevistas com questões abertas direcionadas às professoras e aos seus alunos na rede pública de ensino, em Centros de Estudos de Línguas do estado de São Paulo (CEL) e também observamos aulas nesse mesmo espaço educacional. As informações coletadas relacionam-se ao contexto em que se insere a pesquisa e a ida a campo teve o intuito de conhecer em que momento(s) a teoria, a prática e as crenças subjacentes dialogam. Os dados obtidos e analisados por nós revelam as competências docentes esperadas no profissional, entre as quais ressaltamos a competência comunicativa que se refere à capacidade de utilizar a LE e de promovê-la nos aprendizes, além da competência pedagógica, que está relacionada ao contexto educativo, aos métodos, às reflexões sobre a atuação docente. As considerações finais ressaltam a importância dos estudos sobre abordagens, métodos, aspectos emocionais, análise de materiais didáticos e em especial a reflexão sobre a atuação didática na formação inicial ou continuada do docente, pois a partir da conscientização é possível melhorar a prática pedagógica, para facilitar o ensino e a aprendizagem. Ao conhecer as crenças no ensino, o professor pode promover uma (re)significação da atuação docente, em busca da formação pedagógica integral. / This dissertation is the result of the research that we have made about the intrinsic beliefs related to the methodological theory and its correlation to the practice, as far as the learning/teaching of a foreign language (FL) is concerned. We have started with enquiries which have been carried on from the time we were finishing our Bachelors Degree up to present as Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) teacher. Concerning the objectives of our research, we have attempted: 1) to investigate how the theory connects to the teaching practice; 2) to verify which are the most common teachers beliefs about their acting, the role of the educators, the didactic materials and the development of the classes; 3) to analyze how the applied procedures reveal these beliefs about the theory and the practice. We justify the relevance of our study through the investigation of representations, beliefs or perceptions that both teachers and students create about a good pedagogical action and its components. We have considered some philosophical aspects presented by Dewey (1959), linked to the importance of the thinking about the theory and the didactical practice, regarding the theoretical - methodological fundaments associated to the communicative competence, approaches and methods exposed by Almeida Filho (2005, 2010) and Richards and Rogers (2001) as well as the teaching/learning beliefs elucidated by Barcelos (2004, 2006). The theoretical contributions pointed by Barcelos and Vieira Abrahão (2006); Cortés Cárdenas, Cárdenas Beltrán and Nieto Cruz (2013); Eres Fernández (2000, 2009); Figueiredo (2012); Sánchez Pérez (1997, 2009); Sánchez Lobato and Santos Gargallo (2004) support our study. Our analysis is centered in qualitative characteristics and we adopted an ethnographic perspective in our case. For the field research were provided interviews with open questions directed to the teachers and their public schools students in the Language Study Centers of the State of São Paulo (CEL), as well as classes observation at the same educational centers. The collected information is related to the context in which the investigation is inserted and the field study had the objective of showing the moment that the theory, the practice and the fundamental beliefs interact. The obtained and analyzed data revealed the educational competences expected to be developed by the teachers, among which we emphasize the communicative competence that refers to the ability of using the FL. We also promote it to the learners, along with a pedagogical aptness that is connected to the educational context and with the methods and the reflection on the educators actions. The final considerations focus the attention on the importance of academic studies about different approaches, methods, emotional aspects and analysis of didactic material. They especially consider the initial and continual formation of the educators, because from their consciousness it is possible to improve the pedagogical practice in order to make the learning/teaching process easier. Being aware of the learning beliefs, the teachers are able to promote a new connotation to their actions, searching for an intrinsic pedagogical formation.

Esta dissertação é o resultado da pesquisa que realizamos acerca das crenças subjacentes à teoria metodológica e suas relações com a prática, no âmbito do ensino e aprendizagem de língua estrangeira (LE). Partimos dos questionamentos elaborados por nós desde a Licenciatura, como estudante, até o labor atual como professora de espanhol como língua estrangeira (ELE). No que se refere aos objetivos de nossa pesquisa, procuramos: 1) investigar como a teoria relaciona-se à prática docente, 2) averiguar quais são as crenças mais comuns de professores sobre atuação, papel do docente, materiais didáticos e desenvolvimento da aula, 3) analisar como os procedimentos aplicados revelam as crenças a respeito da teoria e da prática. Justificamos a relevância de nosso estudo ao investigar as representações, crenças ou percepções que tanto os professores quanto os alunos criam sobre uma boa atuação pedagógica e os componentes a ela referidos. Consideramos alguns aspectos filosóficos apresentados por Dewey (1959) referentes à importância da reflexão sobre teoria e prática didática, acerca do fundamento teórico-metodológico relacionado à competência comunicativa, abordagens e métodos expostos por Almeida Filho (2005, 2010) e Richards e Rodgers (2001) bem como as crenças no ensino e aprendizagem explanadas por Barcelos (2004, 2006). As contribuições teóricas apontadas por Barcelos e Vieira Abrahão (2006); Cortés Cárdenas, Cárdenas Beltrán e Nieto Cruz (2013); Eres Fernández (2000, 2009); Figueiredo (2012); Sánchez Pérez (1997, 2009); Sánchez Lobato e Santos Gargallo (2004) embasam nosso estudo. Centramos nossa análise nas características qualitativas e adotamos uma perspectiva etnográfica de estudo de caso. Para a pesquisa de campo foram realizadas entrevistas com questões abertas direcionadas às professoras e aos seus alunos na rede pública de ensino, em Centros de Estudos de Línguas do estado de São Paulo (CEL) e também observamos aulas nesse mesmo espaço educacional. As informações coletadas relacionam-se ao contexto em que se insere a pesquisa e a ida a campo teve o intuito de conhecer em que momento(s) a teoria, a prática e as crenças subjacentes dialogam. Os dados obtidos e analisados por nós revelam as competências docentes esperadas no profissional, entre as quais ressaltamos a competência comunicativa que se refere à capacidade de utilizar a LE e de promovê-la nos aprendizes, além da competência pedagógica, que está relacionada ao contexto educativo, aos métodos, às reflexões sobre a atuação docente. As considerações finais ressaltam a importância dos estudos sobre abordagens, métodos, aspectos emocionais, análise de materiais didáticos e em especial a reflexão sobre a atuação didática na formação inicial ou continuada do docente, pois a partir da conscientização é possível melhorar a prática pedagógica, para facilitar o ensino e a aprendizagem. Ao conhecer as crenças no ensino, o professor pode promover uma (re)significação da atuação docente, em busca da formação pedagógica integral. / This dissertation is the result of the research that we have made about the intrinsic beliefs related to the methodological theory and its correlation to the practice, as far as the learning/teaching of a foreign language (FL) is concerned. We have started with enquiries which have been carried on from the time we were finishing our Bachelors Degree up to present as Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) teacher. Concerning the objectives of our research, we have attempted: 1) to investigate how the theory connects to the teaching practice; 2) to verify which are the most common teachers beliefs about their acting, the role of the educators, the didactic materials and the development of the classes; 3) to analyze how the applied procedures reveal these beliefs about the theory and the practice. We justify the relevance of our study through the investigation of representations, beliefs or perceptions that both teachers and students create about a good pedagogical action and its components. We have considered some philosophical aspects presented by Dewey (1959), linked to the importance of the thinking about the theory and the didactical practice, regarding the theoretical - methodological fundaments associated to the communicative competence, approaches and methods exposed by Almeida Filho (2005, 2010) and Richards and Rogers (2001) as well as the teaching/learning beliefs elucidated by Barcelos (2004, 2006). The theoretical contributions pointed by Barcelos and Vieira Abrahão (2006); Cortés Cárdenas, Cárdenas Beltrán and Nieto Cruz (2013); Eres Fernández (2000, 2009); Figueiredo (2012); Sánchez Pérez (1997, 2009); Sánchez Lobato and Santos Gargallo (2004) support our study. Our analysis is centered in qualitative characteristics and we adopted an ethnographic perspective in our case. For the field research were provided interviews with open questions directed to the teachers and their public schools students in the Language Study Centers of the State of São Paulo (CEL), as well as classes observation at the same educational centers. The collected information is related to the context in which the investigation is inserted and the field study had the objective of showing the moment that the theory, the practice and the fundamental beliefs interact. The obtained and analyzed data revealed the educational competences expected to be developed by the teachers, among which we emphasize the communicative competence that refers to the ability of using the FL. We also promote it to the learners, along with a pedagogical aptness that is connected to the educational context and with the methods and the reflection on the educators actions. The final considerations focus the attention on the importance of academic studies about different approaches, methods, emotional aspects and analysis of didactic material. They especially consider the initial and continual formation of the educators, because from their consciousness it is possible to improve the pedagogical practice in order to make the learning/teaching process easier. Being aware of the learning beliefs, the teachers are able to promote a new connotation to their actions, searching for an intrinsic pedagogical formation.

The dissertation focuses on the possibilities of drama in English language teaching in the second stage of basic education. The objective was to contribute to the development of ELT methodology in the Czech environment and to try to critically define the possibilities of drama education as an approach to instruction in this field. The starting points of this dissertation are based on social constructivism, accent the principle of holistic learning, and stem from the demands for changes in education in connection with the curricular reform of the education system that is currently underway. Apart from a terminological analysis, the theoretical part of the dissertation also contains a detailed introduction to the teaching strategies of drama education and their application in English language teaching. The goal of the empirical part was to find the beliefs of a cohort of teachers from primary schools and of English Studies students at the Faculty of Education regarding the possibility of using drama in English language teaching. The research design was mixed and the research investigation was conducted at two levels, through a questionnaire-based survey and through experimental instruction. The methods of data collection and analysis included a questionnaire-based survey, a pre-test and a post-test,...