This paper examines the ideological content of the compulsory school policy of the Swedish Liberal Party. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the Liberal Party does really represent a liberal policy for the compulsory school, or if it is more accurately described as conservative. The analysis is carried through by two separate critical examinations of the Liberal Party motion on school politics to the parliament and the Conservative Party motion on school politics to the parliament respectively. A comparison is then made between the ideological contents of the two documents. The specific party policies are linked to universal definitions of liberalism and conservatism with the help of an analytical tool consistent of a series of educational philosophies. Difference is made between ideologically motivated purposes and concrete policy recommendations in the motion texts. The results of the ideological content analyses and the comparison show that the compulsory school policy of the Liberal Party can be categorized as conservative, not only vis-à-vis a universal definition of liberalism and conservatism, but also in comparison with the compulsory school policy of the Conservative Party.

The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate how teachers talk about genetics in actual classroom situations. An understanding of how language is used in action can give detailed information about how the subject matter is presented to the students as well as insights in linguistic challenges. From the viewpoint of seeing language to be at the very core of teaching and learning, this study investigates teachers’ spoken language in the classroom in topics within genetics that are known to be both crucial and problematic. Four lower secondary school teachers in compulsory school grade 9 (15-16 years old) were observed and recorded through a whole sequence of genetic teaching. The empirical data consisted of 45 recorded lessons. The teachers’ verbal communication was analyzed using thematic pattern analysis, which is based on the framework of systemic functional linguistics (SFL). The focus of the thesis is to determine how teachers talk about the relationships between the concepts of gene, protein and trait, i.e. the functional aspects of genetics. Prior research suggests that this is a central aspect of genetics education, but at the same time it is problematic for students to understand because the concepts belong to different organizational levels. In the first study I investigated how the concepts of gene and trait were related in the context of Mendelian genetics. My results revealed that the teachers’ way of talking resulted in different meanings regarding the relationship between gene and trait: 1) the gene as an active entity causing the trait 2) the gene as a passive entity identified by the trait 3) the gene as having the trait, and 4) the gene as being the trait. Moreover it was found that the old term anlag was regularly used by the teachers as synonym for both gene and trait. In the second study I examined how teachers included proteins in their lessons, and if and how they discussed proteins as a link between different organizational levels. This study showed that teachers commonly did not emphasize the many functions of proteins in our body. The main message of all teachers was that proteins are built. Two of the teachers used proteins as a link between gene and trait, whereas two of them did not. None of the teachers talked explicitly about genes as exclusively coding for proteins, which implies that the gene codes for both proteins and traits. The linguistic analysis of teachers’ talk in action revealed that small nuances in language used by the teachers resulted in different meanings of the spoken language. Thus, my work identifies several linguistic challenges in the teaching of genetics. / <p>This thesis is written within the framework of the Hasselblad Foundation Graduate School, a four-year programme financed by the Hasselblad Foundation.</p>

The aim of the study is to investigate how multilingualism can be expressed in a classroom. With the aid of a qualitative approach applying the sociocultural perspective and with translanguaging as a theoretical framework, a fifth-grade class has been observed during three lessons in Swedish and mathematics. The class teacher was also asked to answer questions by email about how the pupils’ multilingualism was manifested in the classroom. The result shows that the teacher promotes the pupils’ opportunities for developing knowledge, language and identity by letting them translate words and summaries of texts from Swedish into their mother tongue. The pupils are helped by being allowed to use their multilingualism since they can help each other with words they do not understand and can carry on conversations with each other with no linguistic obstacles. By working in language groups, the pupils are allowed to converse with each other by switching between their languages and thereby creating further conditions for accomplishing the tasks with which they are presented.

The purpose of this study is to examine the critically raised concern on whether the Liberal party of Sweden, in policies regarding the compulsory school, really represents a liberal policy or if it actually functions more as an ambassador for conservative ideals. An ideology analysis is employed for the purpose of answering the research question, which asks if the party’s changed viewpoint on the compulsory school between the years of 1990 and 2010 could be understood in terms of an ideological alternation. The analysis is carried out by an examination where the party’s policies are linked to common definitions of the two political ideologies, with the assistance of an analytical tool consistent of a series of educational philosophies. The philosophies are to be seen as a dictionary to “decipher” what the party really says in their agitated views on the compulsory school, and therefore used as a bridging entity for uniting opinions and policies specifically regarding school and education, to the wider scope of the political ideologies.The result of the study shows that, not only has an ideological alternation not taken place, but the analysis also came up with the findings that neither has a changed viewpoint on the compulsory school been deployed. Right from the first measure in time (year 1990) the party’s policies has, to the greater part, been characterized by conservatism. A result that prevails throughout the whole time span of the study.

As of autumn 2011, all schools in Sweden have adopted and applied the latest curriculum for the compulsory school system. The following is written in concern to technology: "The school is responsible for ensuring that each pupil on completing compulsory school: [...] can use modern technology as a tool in the search for knowledge, communication, creativity and learning." (Skolverket, 2011, pp.13-14) With this said, there are no guidelines or manuals on how this is to be conducted. In a report from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate it was concluded that the investment in technology is not being used for school education. The education systems keep investing in technology in the belief that schools and teachers will sooner or later adopt and benefit from the use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies. The aim of this study is to “create an understanding of the aspects that have an impact on adopting novel use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies in everyday teaching and learning practices in compulsory schools.” The empirical foundation will be based upon three projects: Geometry Mobile (GeM); Learning Ecology with Technologies from Science for Global Outcomes (LETS GO); and Collaborative Learning Using Digital Pens and Interactive Whiteboards (Collboard). All were conducted at local compulsory schools in Växjö municipality, Sweden, in collaboration with teachers, students and fellow researchers from the CeLeKT research group at Linnaeus University. Two Thematic Analyses have been conducted: the first, an inductive analysis exploring the Students’ and Teachers’ Experience of using Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies in their learning and teaching environment. The second analysis is deductive and uses themes from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology models with the aim of understanding the Perception and Acceptance of Teachers’ use of Mobile and Ubiquitous Technologies. In the results from the two analyses there are clear indicators on the added value that mobile and ubiquitous technology brings to the classrooms: students are able to actively participate, collaborate and discuss in different learning settings, which enhances their understanding of the subject at hand. The challenges are mainly to be found in the lack of training and education in use of the technology as a supporting tool for teaching and learning. Further factors influencing the teachers and the students are ease of use and reliability of the technology and societal changes. The results of the analysis and the theoretical base of Technology Enhanced Learning have been illustrated with Soft Systems Methodologies Rich Picture, providing a holistic view of the problematic situation and making it possible to discuss the various parts as well as the situation as a whole. This study indicates that there are several factors influencing the adoption of the novel use of mobile and ubiquitous technologies in everyday teaching and learning within a complex situation on different levels.

Abstract  This study examined grade 4-6 English teachers’ preferred approach regarding the timing of grammatical instruction, developed and distinguished by Spada and Lightbown (2008) as isolated and integrated form-focused instruction (FFI). Both isolated FFI and integrated FFI are described as taking place in primarily meaning-based communicative classrooms. They differ in that isolated FFI takes place separately from communicative activities, while integrated FFI occurs during communicative activities. Using this theoretical distinction, Valeo and Spada (2016) developed teacher and learner questionnaires. The teacher questionnaire, along with observations, was used in the current study to investigate the views of teachers in the context of Swedish compulsory school. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the questionnaire and observation data shows a preference for integrated FFI across all grades (grade 4, grade 5 and grade 6). At the same time, many teachers expressed the value of isolated FFI. The views of the teacher in this study align with previous research claiming that isolated and integrated FFI should not be mutually exclusive. Consistent with Valeo and Spada (2016), the teachers of this study pointed out that context, individual pupils and teacher beliefs may have an impact on decisions regarding the timing of grammatical instruction.

Globally, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurs ranging between 20 to 140 per 100 000 people, with only 2-11% surviving. Immediate bystanders, i.e. a person close to the victim, performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) have a vital role to play in the chain of survival from OHCA. Today CPR training takes place in many different contexts as workplaces and schools, but there is still a lack of knowledge concerning CPR in society at large. The overarching aim for this thesis is to find new ways of delivering CPR in order to train more laypeople and save more lives. By initially exploring CPR training in both workplaces and compulsory schools in Sweden, my final design question for this thesis has been: How might we empower the teachers to enable them to carry out CPR training at school? Ethnographic fieldwork both exploring CPR training in workplaces and schools including interviews with mainly instructors, teachers, and laypeople as well as participatory observations in CPR training, have been carried out. In addition, the fieldwork included being a participant in a CPR training course myself. The results from my research process were clustered into insights and potential opportunity areas. Departing from these insights a decision was made to continue the thesis with CPR training in schools as reaching out to children and young people already at school can open the path for more long-term sustainable knowledge. Despite CPR training being core content from year 7 in compulsory schools in Sweden, it is not carried out in a majority of them. My research shows that lack of CPR material as well as an unclear syllabus in Physical Education and Health in how to involve CPR in your teaching, are some of the main obstacles for teachers and reasons for why CPR training is not being carried out in every school today. Potential future scenarios were explored through creative workshops and idea sessions with the users and main stakeholders. The explorations led to focusing on the teachers, as they have a vital role in being the bridge between the CPR knowledge and the pupils. My final proposal is CiPRA: a collaborative CPR education platform for teachers and schools, with the aim to increase the knowledge and the conditions for teachers to carry out CPR training, starting already from six years of age. The structure of the platform follows the years of the Swedish school system and the recommended steps fromThe Swedish Resuscitation Council for CPR training and first aid. The platform enables teachers to plan and prepare CPR training, both long a short term irrespective of previous experience. The platform is based on three main parts; knowledge contributions from teachers, teaching content both through pre-made lessons and an idea bank as well as a shared booking system for practical CPR material. Together these parts unify in an individual lesson planning for every teacher. In my final design proposal, it has been important to emphasise the main insights as well as making sure that every involved stakeholder is represented.

Our purpose has been to explore how teachers' educate to influence their pupils' interests in biology and if outdoor education is considered to be a part of this. Also how this affects the pupils possibilities in achieving the goals in the nature science oriented curriculum.  The purpose has been examined through qualitative interviews with teachers' who are teaching in the nature oriented subjects in compulsory school, and applies outdoor pedagogy. With a phenomenographic research approach, we were able to gain a deeper insight into the teacher’s individual perceptions of the phenomenon of outdoor learning versus students' interest in the content of the biology subject. The study shows that teachers' see a great value in taking note of students' experiences and prior knowledge and proceed from them in interest-creating teaching in biology. They use reality-based experiences and authentic learning situations as a way to create interest in the subject content. Outdoor lessons are highlighted by teachers' as a way to do this, where they experience benefits by giving students' the opportunity to experience and explore in a more sensory environment. Outdoor lessons also affect their participation and commitment to teaching. The teachers' believe that the practical elements in an authentic environment have an effect on students' ability to absorb the content and remember it, which in turn gives the student a greater chance of achieving the goals in the curriculum. Based on this, we believe that a recommendation for the application of outdoor lessons should be included in the school's governing document. / Vårt huvudsyfte är att bidra till ökad kunskap om utomhuspedagogikens potentiella roll att påverka elevers intresse för biologi och hur utomhuspedagogik kan hjälpa elever mot ökad måluppfyllelse. För att få perspektiv på hur utomhuspedagogik används i förhållande till annan intresseskapande undervisning valde vi också att undersöka hur lärare mer allmänt arbetar för att påverka elevernas intresse för biologi. Syftet har undersökts genom kvalitativa intervjuer av lärare i årskurs 1-9 som undervisar i grundskolans naturorienterande ämnen, med betoning på biologi, samt som aktivt tillämpar utomhuspedagogik. Med en fenomenografisk forskningsansats kunde vi få djupare insikt i lärarnas individuella uppfattningar om just fenomenet utomhuspedagogik kontra elevers intresse för innehållet i biologiämnet.  Studien visar att lärare ser ett stort värde av att ta fasta på elevernas erfarenheter och förkunskaper och att utgå från dem i intresseskapande undervisning i biologi. De använder sig av verklighetsbaserade erfarenheter och autentiska lärsituationer som ett sätt att skapa intresse för ämnesinnehållet. Utomhuspedagogiken lyfts fram av lärarna som ett sätt att göra detta på, där de upplever fördelar genom att eleverna får möjlighet att uppleva och utforska i en sinnlig miljö. Utomhuspedagogiken påverkar också elevernas deltagande och engagemang för undervisningen. Lärarna menar att de praktiska momenten i en autentisk miljö ger effekt på elevers förmåga att ta till sig innehållet och komma ihåg det, vilket i sin tur ger elever större möjlighet att nå målen i kunskapskraven för biologi. Utifrån detta anser vi att en rekommendation för tillämpande av utomhuspedagogik borde finnas i skolans styrdokument.

Det är som lärare i grundsärskolan och som blivande speciallärare en utmaning att få alla elever att känna sig delaktiga i sitt lärande och sin lärprocess samt att ge eleverna inflytande över sin utbildning. Att synliggöra kunskapsmålen i undervisningen så det blir betydelsefullt och begripligt är en aktuell fråga i arbetet med grundsärskoleelever.  Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om undervisning i grundsärskolan genom att studera några speciallärares upplevelser av elevernas lärprocess och måluppfyllelse. Studien utgår då från en fenomenologisk ansats. Våra frågeställningar är vilka faktorer som påverkar elevers måluppfyllelse? Hur synliggör lärare elevers kunskapsmål för eleven? Hur gör lärare för att elever ska bli delaktiga i sin lärprocess?  För insamling av empirin användes kvalitativa metoder genom observationer och intervjuer. Studien är analyserad utifrån ett salutogent perspektiv och som teori har KASAM, Känsla Av SAMmanhang använts (Antonovsky, 2005). KASAM handlar i undervisningssammanhang om att eleven ska känna begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet i sin lärprocess och sitt lärande. Studiens resultat visar att när elevernas mål ska synliggöras och de ska bli delaktiga i sina lärprocesser är tydlighet en framgångsfaktor. Även att som lärare vara bekräftande, uppmuntrande och att få eleverna aktiva är faktorer som påverkar positivt. Lärarna visualiserar målen på olika sätt men det har inte framkommit att de genomgående använder någon specifik modell eller metod samt om de visualiserade målen är begripliga och hanterbara. I intervjuerna påtalar flera av lärarna att de vill ha ett system eller en modell för att kunna få eleverna mer delaktiga i sina lärprocesser och i sina kunskapsmål samt som stöd för bedömning. / As a teacher in Compulsory school for children with intellectual disabilities and as a future special teacher, it is a challenge to make all students involved in their learning and their learning process and to give the students influence over their education. Making the knowledge goals visible so it becomes meaningful and understandable is a current issue in the work with special school students. The purpose of the study is to contribute with knowledge about teaching in Compulsory school for children with intellectual disabilities by studying some special teachers' experiences of the students' learning process and goal fulfillment. Our question statements are what factors affect students' goal fulfillment? How do teachers make knowledge goals visible to students? How do teachers get students involved in their learning process? The study has a phenomenological approach, qualitative methods were used through observations and interviews. The study is analyzed from a salutogenic perspective and as a theory, SOC, Sense of Coherence has been used (Antonovsky, 2005). In a teaching context, SOC is about the student feeling comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness in their learning process and learning. The results of the study show that clarity when it comes to making goals visible and making students involved in their learning processes is a success factor. As a teacher, being affirmative, encouraging and getting students active are also factors that have a positive effect. The teachers visualize the goals in different ways, but it has not emerged that they consistently use any specific model or method and whether the visualized goals are comprehensible and manageable. Several of the teachers says in the interviews that they want a system or a model to use to get the students more involved in their learning process and in their knowledge goals.

This study will explore to what extent familiarity with English accents can influence compulsory school students’ attitudes towards them. Data from questionnaires completed by 98 students were analysed. The results show that the degree of familiarity with the English accent seems to affect the attitude attributed to it. More specifically, the results indicate that a higher degree of familiarity influences the ability to express an attitude. A lower degree of familiarity leads to similar attitudes being given to the accents, which shows a lack of differentiation between them. The results also indicate a bias towards RP. While it is not necessarily harmful, teachers should be aware of this and how their own teaching may influence how different accents are perceived. It is argued that teachers need to intervene in the process of stereotyping which will help develop an awareness of students’ language attitudes. To summarize, it is difficult to draw any wide conclusions from these results due to the study’s scope. Furthermore, the target group is not representative of Swedish compulsory school students as students from the chosen school generally finish with an above-average final grade. Further research is necessary to determine more specifically how familiarity affects attitudes of English accents and if these findings recur in other areas of Sweden where the final grade average is lower.