The present study explored the direct influences of teacher classroom practices, including teacher support, conceptual teaching, and procedural teaching, on 9th grade students' mathematics achievement, and the indirect influences of these teacher variables on student mathematics achievement through students' mathematics self-efficacy and interest in mathematics courses. The base year data of High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS: 09) was used for this study. Structural equation modeling method was used to estimate the relationships among variables. Results showed that teacher classroom practices influenced student mathematics achievement in different ways. Conceptual teaching positively, whereas procedural teaching negatively, influenced student mathematics achievement. Teacher support influenced student mathematics achievement indirectly through students' mathematics self-efficacy. It also had powerful influence on students' interest in mathematics courses. In addition, family socioeconomic status (SES) and student prior achievement were associated with teacher classroom practices. Students with higher levels of family SES and prior achievement were more likely to have teachers who use conceptual teaching strategies. Students with higher prior achievement were more likely to perceive higher levels of teacher support. / Ph. D.

xv, 166 p. : col. ill. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency and the time that middle and high school orchestra directors engaged in seven specific teaching behaviors in a rehearsal setting. Of particular interest was the amount of time orchestra directors engaged in conceptual teaching behaviors operationally defined as verbal behaviors of orchestra directors in which they attempt to make students aware of, have an understanding of, and/or be able to transfer any musical concept. Participants ( N = 12) were full-time middle and high school orchestra directors teaching in Washington, Oregon, or California. Each participant submitted a video recording of two regular orchestra rehearsals. Video recordings of participants were divided into 20-minute segments and randomly selected for observation of seven specific and operationally defined teaching behaviors: (a) nonmusical behavior, (b) nonverbal instruction (direction), (c) verbal instruction (direction), (d) noninteractive listening, (e) nonverbal feedback, (f) verbal feedback, and (g) conceptual teaching. These seven teaching behaviors were analyzed using the Simple Computer Recording Interface for Behavioral Evaluation (SCRIBE) of Duke and Stammen (2007). The data were reported in the form of the frequency with which each behavior occurred, the average time for each behavior expressed in minutes and seconds, and the percentage of time used on each behavior. Findings on conceptual teaching were reported. The results indicated that, on average, orchestra directors spent slightly more than 5% of the observed rehearsal time on conceptual teaching. Most of the instructional time was used on nonverbal instruction (28.15%) and verbal instruction (27.76%). Orchestra directors observed in this study used the least amount of time (2.42%) on nonverbal feedback. The most concerning finding of the study was the time orchestra directors used on nonmusical behaviors (14.70%), and the most interesting finding of the study was that middle school orchestra directors used twice as much time (7.40%) as high school orchestra directors (3.21%) on conceptual teaching. The findings of this study provided suggestions for future research and implications for music educators. / Committee in charge: Dr. Frank Diaz, Chair; Dr. Phyllis Paul, Member; Dr. Eric Wiltshire, Member; Dr. Leslie Straka, Member; Dr. Julie Hessler, Outside Member

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T19:13:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 Gisele Bordignon Lunelli.pdf: 2579038 bytes, checksum: be1ec87455cee32f02d3b8026be84cad (MD5) Gisele Bordignon Lunelli.pdf.txt: 143397 bytes, checksum: 49ceaf17ded14700ceafb2fda0767423 (MD5) Gisele Bordignon Lunelli.pdf.jpg: 3756 bytes, checksum: f6a74abdecd5bd35ead5cc3a0a944ddb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-09-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work presents a study on the use of computacional experiments which are based in animations and in simulations for applying in didactic activities in teaching the concepts of position, displacement, velocity and acceleration related to the kinematics of the particle. These activities were developed in a meaningful learning perspective based on tne theory of conceptual fields. Participants are twenty students from the first grade of a private high school. This study aims to examine how the use of computational animations and simulations can help in meaningful learning of concepts of particle kinematics in high school. Protocols of activities and a questionnaire are used as instruments of data collection. The conclusions obtained from the vision of the students showed that: (i) the computacional experiments with educational animations and simulations brought the everyday of the student to near the theoretical physics, encouraging learning, (ii) they gave connections between situations presented in virtual experiments and the concepts of the physics through interaction, (iii) they encouraged the pleasure of learning, showing its playful character, and (iv) they showed to be an innovative approaching, making interesting the classes as compared with those tradicional ones. It is worthy emphasize that not all students found useful the lessons with this approach, and that the conceptual difficulties persisted. To these difficulties, other ones such as those of procedimental character may have contributed to hinder the conceptual learning. / Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre o uso de experimentos computacioinais baseados em animações e simulações implementadas em atividades didáticas no ensino dos conceitos de posição, deslocamento, velocidade e aceleração relacionados à cinemática da partícula. As atividades didáticas foram desenvolvidas em uma perspectiva de aprendizagem significativa à luz da teoria dos campos conceituais. Os participantes são vinte estudantes da primeira série de uma escola particular. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar como o uso de animação e simulação computacional pode auxiliar na aprendizagem significativa de conceitos de cinemática da partícula em nível médio. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados são fichas de acompanhamento das atividades didáticas e um questionário aberto. As conclusões obtidas a partir da visão dos estudantes apontam que os experimentos computacionais com animações e simulações educacionais: (i) aproximaram os conhecimentos teóricos da Física com o cotidiano, favorecendo à aprendizagem, (ii) proporcionaram conexões entre as situações-problema apresentadas nos experimentos virtuais e os conteúdos físicos por meio da interatividade, (iii) despertaram o prazer pela aprendizagem, evidenciando seu caráter lúdico, e, (iv) tiveram caráter inovador, tornando as aulas de Física interessantes e diferentes das aulas tradicionais. Ressalta-se que nem todos os estudantes consideraram proveitosas as aulas com esta abordagem, e que as dificuldades conceituais persistiram. A essas dificuldades, acrescentam-se outras de caráter procedimental que podem ter contribuido para obstaculizar a aprendizagem conceitual.

Accounting transactions are becoming more complex, and more extensive accounting guidance is provided on a continuous basis in the accounting standards. In addition, accounting guidance changes often and additional guidance is added to the standards regularly. In view of this immense amount of accounting knowledge that an accountant can be expected to have, exacerbated by often multifaceted structures in accounting problems, it can be challenging and onerous to solve certain accounting problems. The premise of this study is that accounting problems can also be solved in a less complex manner with reference to the foundational accounting concepts included in the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (CF). The solution to the accounting problem using the CF should result in a similar answer had the detailed, complex accounting guidance been consulted. This is based on the understanding that the detailed guidance is consistent with the CF and that the CF is not underdeveloped. In the experience of the author of this dissertation, however, the CF is rarely used to consider the accounting treatment of specific transactions and the first point of reference is usually the detailed, specific guidance. In order to impart a practice of incorporating the CF in problem-solving, the study in this dissertation is underpinned by educational philosophies rooted mainly in constructivism, and specifically in Ausubel’s subsumption theory. Applied to accounting education, this theory suggests a frameworkbased approach whereby educators first instil a detailed knowledge of the CF in an Accounting course and thereafter present details of specific accounting transactions by building and crossreferencing to the foundational concepts in the CF. In addition, the paradigm in Accounting courses should also incorporate problems and experiments through which students can construct their own knowledge, rather than being passive recipients of an educator’s teaching style. Recent literature on framework-based teaching suggests that such an approach is beneficial as it enhances lifelong learning. This study reported on a framework-based approach incorporated in an Accounting course and aimed to determine students’ ability to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF, as well as to determine the factors that could influence their ability to solve the problems and the preferred problem-solving approach of students in facing future accounting problems. In order to address the broad aim of this study, it was divided into two sections, each to identify and analyse a different aspect of accounting problem-solving that incorporated the CF. The study in this dissertation focused mainly on an interpretive research paradigm. The first project had the primary objective of determining whether students have the ability to solve complex accounting problems by using only the CF and determining which factors could influence their ability. This was established by analysing the content and results of an assignment administered to third-year Accounting students at a South African university in which students were required to solve problems using only the CF. The second project had the objective of determining the preferred future approach students will take in solving accounting problems after they have been exposed to a framework-based assignment. This was established through qualitative measures and augmented by a questionnaire to analyse the students’ perceptions. The contributions of this dissertation are manifold and include, but are not limited to, the realisation that a conceptual approach to accounting education is beneficial in Accounting courses. The results in this study indicate that the ability of students to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF may depend on the complexity of the scenario and the students’ familiarity with the problem. In addition, after being exposed to a framework-based assignment, students may tend to prefer a mixed approach in solving accounting problems, which entails a combination of the concepts in the CF and specific accounting guidance governing a particular transaction. The author also believes that this study makes a practical contribution by providing an actual framework-based assignment which can be used or adapted by other Accounting educators to use in similar courses, or to help them develop similar assignments or case studies or to replicate the study. From an educational perspective, it is recommended that Accounting educators incorporate an emphasis on the CF in their teaching approach. As students are exposed to opportunities to exercise their judgement using the concepts included in the CF, they will gain experience in this and be able to exercise better judgement in future. Each time a student is exposed to a problem requiring to be solved using the CF, or is required to make necessary judgements with regard to the CF, it will lead to the creation of new knowledge which the student can constantly link and cross-reference to existing knowledge and experiences. It also appears that, when students are exposed to problem-solving using the CF, it may lead to accountants adopting a more balanced approach by considering more CF constructs in solving future accounting problems. Although the study in this dissertation was conducted at only one university, its implications are by no means limited to this institution. Extrapolation of results cannot be attempted due to the nature of the research design, but the results in this study are valuable and enhance accounting education literature in better understanding students’ problem-solving abilities and their preferred problemsolving approach. The research is therefore valuable to any Accounting educator, as well as the institutional bodies guiding accounting education and its syllabi. It is hoped also that some of the findings will inspire other educational institutions to promote a framework-based approach in an innovative manner. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Accounting transactions are becoming more complex, and more extensive accounting guidance is provided on a continuous basis in the accounting standards. In addition, accounting guidance changes often and additional guidance is added to the standards regularly. In view of this immense amount of accounting knowledge that an accountant can be expected to have, exacerbated by often multifaceted structures in accounting problems, it can be challenging and onerous to solve certain accounting problems. The premise of this study is that accounting problems can also be solved in a less complex manner with reference to the foundational accounting concepts included in the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (CF). The solution to the accounting problem using the CF should result in a similar answer had the detailed, complex accounting guidance been consulted. This is based on the understanding that the detailed guidance is consistent with the CF and that the CF is not underdeveloped. In the experience of the author of this dissertation, however, the CF is rarely used to consider the accounting treatment of specific transactions and the first point of reference is usually the detailed, specific guidance. In order to impart a practice of incorporating the CF in problem-solving, the study in this dissertation is underpinned by educational philosophies rooted mainly in constructivism, and specifically in Ausubel’s subsumption theory. Applied to accounting education, this theory suggests a frameworkbased approach whereby educators first instil a detailed knowledge of the CF in an Accounting course and thereafter present details of specific accounting transactions by building and crossreferencing to the foundational concepts in the CF. In addition, the paradigm in Accounting courses should also incorporate problems and experiments through which students can construct their own knowledge, rather than being passive recipients of an educator’s teaching style. Recent literature on framework-based teaching suggests that such an approach is beneficial as it enhances lifelong learning. This study reported on a framework-based approach incorporated in an Accounting course and aimed to determine students’ ability to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF, as well as to determine the factors that could influence their ability to solve the problems and the preferred problem-solving approach of students in facing future accounting problems. In order to address the broad aim of this study, it was divided into two sections, each to identify and analyse a different aspect of accounting problem-solving that incorporated the CF. The study in this dissertation focused mainly on an interpretive research paradigm. The first project had the primary objective of determining whether students have the ability to solve complex accounting problems by using only the CF and determining which factors could influence their ability. This was established by analysing the content and results of an assignment administered to third-year Accounting students at a South African university in which students were required to solve problems using only the CF. The second project had the objective of determining the preferred future approach students will take in solving accounting problems after they have been exposed to a framework-based assignment. This was established through qualitative measures and augmented by a questionnaire to analyse the students’ perceptions. The contributions of this dissertation are manifold and include, but are not limited to, the realisation that a conceptual approach to accounting education is beneficial in Accounting courses. The results in this study indicate that the ability of students to solve complex accounting problems by referring only to the CF may depend on the complexity of the scenario and the students’ familiarity with the problem. In addition, after being exposed to a framework-based assignment, students may tend to prefer a mixed approach in solving accounting problems, which entails a combination of the concepts in the CF and specific accounting guidance governing a particular transaction. The author also believes that this study makes a practical contribution by providing an actual framework-based assignment which can be used or adapted by other Accounting educators to use in similar courses, or to help them develop similar assignments or case studies or to replicate the study. From an educational perspective, it is recommended that Accounting educators incorporate an emphasis on the CF in their teaching approach. As students are exposed to opportunities to exercise their judgement using the concepts included in the CF, they will gain experience in this and be able to exercise better judgement in future. Each time a student is exposed to a problem requiring to be solved using the CF, or is required to make necessary judgements with regard to the CF, it will lead to the creation of new knowledge which the student can constantly link and cross-reference to existing knowledge and experiences. It also appears that, when students are exposed to problem-solving using the CF, it may lead to accountants adopting a more balanced approach by considering more CF constructs in solving future accounting problems. Although the study in this dissertation was conducted at only one university, its implications are by no means limited to this institution. Extrapolation of results cannot be attempted due to the nature of the research design, but the results in this study are valuable and enhance accounting education literature in better understanding students’ problem-solving abilities and their preferred problemsolving approach. The research is therefore valuable to any Accounting educator, as well as the institutional bodies guiding accounting education and its syllabi. It is hoped also that some of the findings will inspire other educational institutions to promote a framework-based approach in an innovative manner. / MCom (Accountancy), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015