This thesis presents visualisation as a method for research on learner interaction. The visualisation is designed to account for the dynamics of learner interaction across the duration of language classroom activities. The development of this method includes the formulation of a dynamical perspective on learner interaction, which draws on sociocultural and complexity theory. The visualisation is developed with, and applied to, data from three pairs of participants engaged in a series of similar English writing activities in a Norwegian primary classroom. The thesis provides a detailed discussion of how this learner interaction data was transcribed, coded and eventually visualised. The application of the visualisation to the Norwegian primary classroom data resulted in the identification of patterns and phases in the participants' learner interaction. These patterns and phases revealed both common and unique dynamics across the three cases of interaction. The outcome of the visual analysis of one of the cases was used to guide an in-depth analysis of episodes of learner talk. This in-depth analysis confirmed some of the dynamics established by the visual analysis. A final visual analysis identified different change processes in the three cases of learner interaction across the series of similar writing activities. Overall, the visualisation helped to make transparent how both the writing activity and the participants' own contributions affected the dynamics of learner interaction. The thesis concludes that, in the terms of the dynamical perspective developed by the thesis, visualisation was an effective method for describing the dynamics of learner interaction in the writing activities the participants were engaged in. The thesis also suggests that visualisation can be used in conjunction with other methods for researching learner interaction. Finally, the thesis points out some limitations of the present implementation of visualisation, and makes suggestions for how the method can be improved through further research.

Summary When students have made some progress in studying ordinary differential equations (ODEs) during a semester, small groups are given a soccer ball and asked to determine the simplest model describing one bounce of the ball from shoulder height. To start with, they play with the ball. However, after a few weeks, they begin to ask penetrating questions and they are led to a simple model that has a non-trivial twist to the solution.

Abstract A nonrelativistic model for the classical electrodynamic equations of motion for a radiating particle is investigated. This model is suitable for discussion in a beginning differential equations course and beginning physics course on particle dynamics. It is of interest as it is linear of third order and the third derivative acts as a damping term. Boundedness of the solution becomes of critical importance and conditions are determined for bounded solutions in the unforced and simple sinusoidal forcing cases. The sensitivity of numerical solutions is discussed and further investigations suitable for undergraduate research projects or small student group investigations are suggested.

This study aimed to investigate the extent to which a class of grade 10 students at a private, co-educational school in Johannesburg, South Africa, are digitally literate and how they engage with digital technology both inside and outside the classroom. The study also aimed to explore some implications of these students‟ digital literacy practices for the teaching of English at the school. Data were collected from interviews and from questionnaires completed by the students. Students also wrote digital literacy histories. The main finding is that the participants in the study are digitally literate and engage with digital technology on a day-to-day basis. They are the lap generation (Tapscott, 1998) as they are lapping their parents and teachers with regard to their knowledge and use of digital technology. This use occurs primarily in their out-of-school, or social, environments and is not being drawn on substantively in the classroom, even in a well-resourced school.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

This thesis draws on the theories of Foucault, and Deleuze and Guattari to describe some ways in which teacher and student identities are produced and performed in a second language classroom. Three major aspects of identity are considered: cultural identity, teacher professional role identity, and the changing identity of the language learner. The thesis uses poststructuralist perspectives to critique notions of identity current in second language theory and practice. It extends the conception of identity as 'subjectivity’ proposed by Bonny Norton Peirce - that is, as multiple, impermanent, fragmented – to include the notion of subjectivity produced in interaction and desire. Through an examination of texts produced in an ethnographic study, the thesis addresses issues of cultural categorisation and stereotyping in second language teaching and learning. It discusses the discursive production of subjectivity in discourses of cultural identity and the extent to which culture is a determining factor in subjectivity in the classroom site of the research. It shows how a homogenising effect of discourse leads to the positioning, both self-imposed and other-imposed, of individuals as members of particular cultural groups with particular characteristics. The thesis also discusses the discursive production of subjectivity through discourses of good teacher and good student, and demonstrates the extent to which these discourses are processes of molarisation. The thesis is thus concerned here with an examination of relatively static, fixed identifications and to demonstrate the power of discourse to determine subjectivities. It is also concerned to look at an excess to discourse, a flow which is beyond signification and identification: desire. Identity change at the discursive level is discussed through discourses of becoming, and is differentiated from movements away from subjectification. These movements of desire are proposed as a new way of conceiving agency. The thesis attempts to show some ways in which these subjectivities, produced in discourse and desire, play out in the classroom, in terms of their production and reception by participants, and the impacts on the teaching/learning context.

Australia continues to become culturally diverse. This diversity is being witnessed in Catholic schools. This thesis reports research which employed quantitative data collection methods in investigating students’ perceptions of their multicultural classroom environment. By drawing on Catholic school literature, multicultural literature, previous learning environment research and the perceptions of stakeholders, an instrument, known as the Multicultural Classroom Environment Instrument (MCEI), was developed to assess psychosocial dimensions of classroom environments in Queensland Catholic secondary schools. These dimensions were: Collaboration, Competition, Teacher Authority, Teacher Support, Congruence, Deference, Teacher Directedness and Gender Equity. The use of the instrument with a sample of 1,460 students in 24 Catholic secondary schools in Queensland revealed some statistically significant differences in students’ perceptions of their classroom environment. Differences were revealed according to the country of birth of the student and those of the parents. Investigations examining school type, subject, year level and gender were also undertaken. Single-sex schools were shown to be more concerned with Teacher Authority and Competition compared to coeducational schools. Religion and Study of Religion classes were perceived as very similar, irrespective of school type. There were differences in students’ perception of the classroom environment across different year levels, with year 8 students’ perceptions significantly different to that of years 10 and 12 students. Girls generally perceived their classroom environment more positively than boys, with greater Collaboration, Teacher Support and Gender Equity and less Competition and Teacher Authority. The results of this thesis suggest that differences in students’ perceptions of multicultural classroom environments in Queensland Catholic secondary schools do exist. It also suggests that in order to continue to provide quality education, Catholic schools must acknowledge these differences. They must also ensure that curriculum initiatives, staff professional development and training, and other educational and pastoral initiatives are designed to incorporate the differences identified in this thesis. Further investigation into a variety of multicultural classroom environments is recommended.

This study takes a theoretical stance that relies on the notion that cognitive development is predominantly a process of learning. The study rests particularly on the Vygotskian theory that children learn within a social environment by practising cognitive skills, under expert tutelage, that they will later perform independently. If children are to develop skills in reasoning the classroom needs to be a place where reasoning skills are modelled, practised and reinforced. Certain features of interactive discourse may have the effect of emphasising the content of a discussion at the expense of the reasoning process and therefore of the practice of reasoning. This study investigated the interactive discourse of a classroom discussion that had reasoning as the sole objective of the discussion and identified the discourse features that characterised the discussion. One experimental kindergarten group and two experimental grade 1/2 groups were introduced to a reasoning-based approach using the Elfie package. A discussion, based on a children's story, was then held with these groups and with two experimental kindergartens that had received no previous exposure to the reasoning-based approach. Examination was also made of the discourse features of a control kindergarten discussion and a grade 1/2 discussion. Important differences were identified between the discourse features of the control and experimental classrooms. Analyses of the experimental discussions found a lower proportion of teacher utterances that were psuedo questions, and that included evaluation of pupil comments; a higher proportion of teacher invitations to explore the logical implications of an idea; a higher proportion of pupil utterances that were in response to other pupil comments and a higher proportion of pupil utterances that included reasons. Analyses of control discussions found that the prevailing pattern of discourse involved teacher initiation (often a pseudo question) - pupil response - teacher evaluation and re-elicitation. Discussion is included about the role such a pattern plays in emphasising content at the expense of the process of reasoning.

This thesis is a study of Métis teacher practice. Teacher practice evolves from experiences that teachers had as students. In a hegemonic educational system, certain practices are more valued than others. Minority teachers have been schooled in this same hegemony. The struggle for many minority teachers is to fully integrate their cultural identity into their teaching practice. They need to resist the established dominant norms and the pressure to conform in their classrooms. There are very few supports for teachers who challenge the status-quo. Four Métis teachers were the participants in the study along with the researcher who became a co-participant. The study investigated how the participants viewed the role of Métis culture in their professional and personal lives. Using a voice as a Métis woman and teacher, the researcher used narrative to analyze and reflect on the data. It was found that the participants cultural identity influenced their teaching practice. The standards that guided their classroom choices and behaviours have been shaped by their own experiences. The participants realized that it was their task to teach for social change and support their minority students in learning how to function in an oppressive society. The participants taught for social justice through critical pedagogy and their choice of teaching methodologies. They taught their students how to question power, privilege, inequality, knowledge and ideas. Using the teaching methodologies of storytelling and dialogue allowed these teacher participants to honour themselves and the uniqueness of each student. They created an environment that respected diversity and affirmed their students identities. In this thesis the researcher provided a voice of Métis that is distinct, yet can be viewed alongside other Aboriginal cultures. It is believed that this study can assist other teachers in analyzing their own practice as well as demonstrate how teaching for social justice benefits all students.