Research has shown that interest in science often decreases in the middle-school grades for both boys and girls, but that more boys continue on the science track in high school and college, leading to males dominating the fields of science and engineering in the work place. The interpersonal interaction between teachers and students, as both individuals and as a group, comprises a large part of the classroom learning environment. Though these interactions last only a school year, they can influence student attitudes and achievement in the long term. Past research has suggested that a key factor in improving student achievement and attitudes is to create learning environments which emphasize characteristics that have been found to be linked empirically with achievement and attitudes. The purpose of this study was to use quantitative methods to validate a learning environment questionnaire (Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction, QTI), to investigate outcome-environment associations, and to compare male and female students in terms of their attitudes, classroom environment perceptions and achievement. An attitude scale, based on items from the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA), and a 48-item eight-scale version of the QTI were administered to 1228 science students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 at one middle school in South Florida. Student achievement was measured using the students’ quarterly (nine-week) science grade. / The results revealed satisfactory internal consistency reliability for the QTI, with alpha reliability coefficients ranging from 0.51 to 0.83 for different scales with the student as the unit of analysis and from 0.54 to 0.96 for class means. For the 10-item attitude scale, the alpha coefficient was above 0.80 for both the student and the class mean as the unit of analysis, demonstrating high internal consistency reliability. Overall, the results of the statistical analyses supported that the QTI questionnaire and the attitude scale are valid and reliable instruments for use with secondary science students in South Florida. A strong relationship was found between student outcomes (attitudes and achievement) and many of the eight QTI scales with either the individual or the class mean as the unit of analysis. For example, students’ attitudes towards science were more positive when teachers exhibited more leadership and understanding behaviors and science achievement was higher when teachers were friendlier and less uncertain. The use of MANOVA tentatively revealed gender differences in students’ perceptions of teacher interpersonal behavior, attitudes towards science, and science achievement. However, the differences between males and females were statistically significant only for the Helping/Friendly, Dissatisfied, and Admonishing scales of the QTI and for achievement. In general, relative to males, female students had more positive perceptions of teacher interpersonal behavior and higher academic achievement.

The purpose of this project was to test the hypothesis that student enthusiasm, participation, and comprehension would increase when using cooperative learning techniques in a classroom context.

Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Management / PhD (CS)

Syfte och frågeställning Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om elevers uppfattningar om vilka faktorer i undervisningen som främjar deras välbefinnande. Genom att låta elever beskriva den undervisning som de anser främjar deras välbefinnande finns en förhoppning om att bidra med värdefull kunskap som kan tillföra förståelse för hur undervisningen skulle kunna utvecklas för att främja elevers välbefinnande. ● Vilka faktorer i undervisningen upplever elever främjar deras välbefinnande? Teori Studiens teoretiska ansats har sin utgångspunkt i det psykologiska perspektivet med betoning på det kognitiva. Teorierna beskriver den syn på eleven, lärande och välbefinnande som används i studien. Metod Studien är kvalitativ och bygger på semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalsgruppen består av tio niondeklassare från en kommuns fyra högstadieskolor. Intervjuerna genomfördes dels digitalt och dels i fysiska träffar. Intervjuguiden bestod av tre frågor och följdfrågor av sonderande karaktär. Resultat Studiens resultat visar att de faktorer i undervisningen som eleverna upplever främjar deras välbefinnande är: tillgänglighet, variation, valmöjlighet, att få vara aktiv och självständig, positiva sammanhang, kreativa arbetssätt, utmanande uppgifter, tillfälle till återhämtning, tillitsfulla, vägledande och uppmuntrande relationer och att få känna sig kompetent. När undervisningen innehåller dessa faktorer känner de starkt engagemang och välbefinnande. Ett genomgående tema urskiljde sig: variation och engagemang genom delaktighet och inflytande. Specialpedagogiska implikationer Specialpedagogen ska tillsammans med elevhälsan främst arbeta hälsofrämjande och förebyggande. Här har specialpedagogen en viktig funktion när det gäller att definiera och skapa en gemensam kunskap om och förståelse för vad ett hälsofrämjande perspektiv och förhållningssätt är. Ett viktigt förändrings- och utvecklingsarbete för specialpedagogen är att tillsammans med lärarna organisera för en hälsofrämjande undervisning där eleverna ges stor möjlighet till delaktighet och inflytande. Undervisningens utformning och elever som blir lyssnade på är en nyckel i arbetet med att främja elevers välbefinnande.

Thesis (M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Learners’ academic achievement occupies a very important place in education as well as in the learning process. This study was therefore conducted to investigate factors causing the underperformance of grade 12 learners in secondary schools in Ermelo, Msukaligwa 1 circuit in Gert Sibande district Mpumalanga Province. The qualitative approach was used. Qualitative data generation techniques (semi- structured face to face, observations and document analysis) were used to solicit the understanding of parents, grade 12 learners, grade 12 teachers and heads of department with regard to the phenomenon being studied. The sample size of 22 participants (6 parents, 6 learners, 4 heads of departments and 6 grade 12 teachers) were selected through purposive sampling technique. Data generated through interviews was analysed by using thematic analysis approach. Findings revealed that there are possible factors that cause poor academic performance in Grade 12. Factors include home related factors, school related factors, teacher related factors, parent related factors and learner related factors. Identified home related factors were the size of the family, unpredictable environment at home as well as low financial income. School related factors included overcrowded classrooms, shortage of textbooks, planned and unplanned programmes. Teacher related factors included non-attendance of classes, inadequate content coverage, non-implementation of subject improvement strategies and excessive code switching. Learner related factors included late coming and attitude towards learning. Parent related factors include poor parental support and inadequate level of education. Based on the findings, the study recommends that appointed heads of department should be responsible for the management of subjects they are qualified to manage. Again, the department of education revisits the implementation of the policy of progression so that only learners deserving to be promoted to the next grade are promoted.