Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Includes bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis focuses on the critical role of the new principal as agent of change. “New principal” in this context is a principal who has been at a specific school for between one and five years. He or she may have been promoted from a post at the same school or have been a principal at another school beforehand. The thesis highlights the tangible changes these principals made during their time at these schools, from raising the morale of educators, to improving academic results of learners, to increasing the level of involvement of parents as well as community members. The literature survey focuses on change in school contexts where urgent and far reaching change is necessary. It shows how complex the process is and the various stages that are involved. The literature underlines that change and resistance are sides of the same coin. It seems that successful change requires that the principal as an agent and initiator of change has a clear set of strategies to handle the inevitable resistance to the process. The literature review also explores the different stages of resistance and the considerations necessary to ensure that the change process leads to a peaceful conclusion that benefits the school as a whole. The main collection instrument used in this qualitative research is a semi-structured interview on the theme of change. The study uses the narratives of four principals, two from secondary schools and two from primary schools from dysfunctional and low-performing schools that emerged, to explore the reasons for their success. Findings show all these ‘new’ principals were at schools affected by socio-economic factors that had a negative effect on the academic results of learners. The attempts these principals made were initially met with resistance, particularly from educators who had been at the school for some time, who did not see any need to make changes at the school. It seems the findings show that the principals in this study always had an appropriate strategy to deal with the situations that arose. This makes them truly transformational leaders, i.e. leaders with the necessary expertise who can enable their followers to perform better than they thought they could and work for the good of the institution rather than their own self-interest. These are the type of leaders that schools need to make our education system as effective as it needs to be. In the interests of making dysfunctional or poorly performing schools a better place of teaching and learning for all learners and educators, further research should build on the work done here. Particular attention should be given to the management style of effective school such as the new principals at these particular schools. This will provide us with better academic “lenses” to observe the necessary passion and commitment with which these changes are made, and the ways in which principals are able to endure and overcome any resistance to change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis fokus op die kritieke rol van die “nuwe prinsipaal (skoolhoof) as agent van verandering”. “Nuwe prinsipaal” in hierdie konteks bedoel prinsipaal is ''n persoon wat tussen een en vyf jaar by n spesifieke skool was. Hierdie persoon kan in hierdie pos as prinsipaal by hul hiudige skool bevorder geword het, of as prinsipaal by n ander skool in die pos as prinsipaal gewerk het. Hierdie tesis bring na vore die sigbare veranderings wat hierdie prinsipale aangebring het gedurende hul termyn by hierdie skole, van die opheffing van die moreel van onderwysers tot die verbetering van die akademiese uitslae van leerders, tot beter betrokkenheid van ouers en gemeenskaplede by die skool. Die literere navorsing fokus op verandering binne die skool konteks waar dringend en vergaande verandering 'n noodsaaklihheid geword het. Dit bewys die komplekse aard en die verskillende stadiums verbind daarmee. Die literatuur beklemtoon die feit dat verandering en weerstand twee kante van dieselfde muntstuk is (gaan saam). Dit blyk suksevolle veranderings verg van die prinsipaal as agent en inisieerder van verandering, duidelike strategiee om die onafwendbare of onvoorspelbare weerstand te bestuur in die proses. Die literere oorsig ondersoek die verskillende stadiums van weerstand endie nodige vermoens om die proses van verandering te ondersteun, en tot voordeel van die skool as geheul te bevoordeel. Die vernaamste instrument wat in die kwalititiewe navorsing gebruik is, was n semi-struktuere onderhoud gebaseer op die tema van verandering. Hierdie studie gebruik die verhalende aard van die vier prinsipale, twee van sekondere skole, en twee van primere skole, almal van disfunktionele en lae-voerende skole, wat die rede vir hul sukses bepaal het. Bevindings wys dat al die “nuwe prinsipale” by skole was wat beinvloed was deur sosio-ekonomiese faktore wat 'n negatiewe uitwerking gehad het op die akademiese uitslae van leerders. Die pogings van die prinsipale was aanvanglik met weerstand gepaard gegaan, veral van opvoeders wat vir 'n aantal jare by die skool was, en nie die nodigheid vir veranderings gesien het nie. Bevindings in die studie toon dat die prinsipale altyd gereed was met die gepaste strategie om die situasie te hanteer. Die het van hulle ware transformele leiers gemaak, m.a.w. leiers met die nodige vaardighede, wat hulle in staat gestel het om hulle volgelinge bemagtig het om beter te doen as wat hulle gedink het hulle in staat was, en gewerk het tot die voordeel van die skool as instansie en nie tot hulle eie belange as prinsipale nie. In die belange en voordeel om van disfunksionele of swak akademiese skole 'n beter plek van onderrig en opvoeding vir alle leerders en opvoeders te maak, word voorgestel dat verdere navorsing onderneem word. Daar moet veral gefokus word op, die bestuursstyl van geaffekteerde skole soos die nuwe prinsipale van hierdie spesifieke skole. Dit sal ons met beter akademiese lense toerus om die nodige passie en toegewydheid te observeer waarmee hierdie veranderings gemaak was, en die maniere waarmee die prinsipale gevolhard het teen die stryd om weerstand teen te staan in die proses tot verandering.

集團企業是多個子公司的組合，在追求集團整體利益極大化的過程中，可能爲了追求內部資源市場配置，因而犧牲某些子公司的個別利益，或是彼此子公司之間出現交叉補貼的現象。在交叉補貼的動機下，雙方子公司進行交易時，將可能有一方犧牲，而另一方受惠；或是一方受惠較多，一方受惠較少的情形。在此情形下，集團企業爲追求長期利益，應採取何種管理作為以促使子公司間進行交易，是本研究的核心問題。 本研究以集團企業之子公司間交易為主題，嘗試探索影響子公司間交易發生的因素(本研究將影響子公司間交易發生的因素命名為「交易情境」)，且以「交易情境」的觀點，進一步探討集團企業中子公司間交易之管理方式。為此，本研究以台灣集團企業作為研究對象，結合集團企業之綜效管理相關理論及文獻，針對實務現象進行分析。 本研究採質性研究方法，以集團企業中子公司間的「交易」為分析單位，進行資料蒐集與個案分析。本研究分二階段進行。第一階段為前導個案研究，依個案分析歸納發現，子公司間交易發生的情境因素包括：「投入可衡量程度」、「投入成本程度」、「市場失靈程度」以及「產出互惠程度」。子公司間交易的管理作為包括：「目標一體化」、「轉撥計價」和「市場機制(市價)」。並且建構子公司間「交易情境」與「管理作為」之配適模式，發展出初步的研究架構、研究發現與研究命題，作為後續個案研究之原樣複現基礎。第二階段為後續個案研究，目的在修正並驗證前一階段建立的研究架構與研究命題，使其內容更為豐富。 本研究整合前導個案與後續個案，歸納出下列研究發現： 一、 公司間交易情境與管理作為之配適模式 集團企業進行子公司間交易管理時，應考量「交易」的本質，也就是交易情境，針對「市場失靈程度」、「投入可衡量程度」、「投入成本程度」以及「產出互惠程度」之不同，選擇較能發揮綜效之管理作為。子公司間交易的管理作為包括「目標一體化」、「轉撥計價」和「市場機制(市價)」，因應不同的交易情境組合，管理作為的搭配組合也有所不同，藉由此配適模式，以追求集團企業之綜效。 二、 「目標一體化」程度之提升，有助於「轉撥計價」、「市場機制(市價)」方式的發揮 集團企業在追求綜效過程中，若需要犧牲某一家子公司，成全另一家子公司利益時，「目標一體化」將扮演重要的角色。透過提升「目標一體化」程度，使「轉撥計價」、「市場機制(市價)」方式更能發揮。換言之，集團企業的綜效是源自於「目標一體化」，「目標一體化」有助於子公司之間交易成本的降低。 三、 「目標一體化」、「轉撥計價」和「市場機制(市價)」的使用有其搭配的強弱程度 「目標一體化」對於「轉撥計價」和「市場機制(市價)」具有調節作用，當子公司間交易依賴「高轉撥計價」時，則使用「目標一體化」的程度較低。當子公司間交易依賴「低轉撥計價」時，則使用「目標一體化」的程度較高。當子公司間交易依賴「市場機制(市價)」時，則使用「目標一體化」的程度較低。 / A business group is composed of several subsidiary companies. To increase group-level profits, the profits of subsidiaries may be scarified and one subsidiary may cross-subsidize others. In cross-subsidization between two subsidiaries, one may benefit more than the other or one may benefit and the other may suffer. Giving this understanding, two-stage study is conducted to observe the phenomena by studying business groups in Taiwan. In the first stage, ten pilot cases are conducted and eight more cases are examined in the second stage. Taking the view of “the contexts of transactions”, this study aims to examine how headquarters manages inter-subsidiaries transactions to create group synergy. As part of the methodology, a qualitative research method is adopted and the unit of analysis is inter-subsidiaries transaction. The research process includes two stages. In the first stage, it is found that the contexts affecting inter-subsidiaries transactions consist of “level of input measurability”, “level of input cost”, “level of market failure” and “level of outcome reciprocity”. The mechanisms for managing inter-subsidiaries transactions include “goal alignment”, “transfer-pricing” and “market mechanism (market price)”. Further, a fitting model between “the context of transactions” and “mechanisms” is proposed as a prior research framework for the second stage. In terms of integrating two-stage case analysis, three main research findings include: 1. A fitting model between “the contexts of transactions” and “mechanisms” Headquarters should take into account the essence of transaction when managing inter-subsidiaries transactions. The essence of transaction means “level of input measurability”, “level of input cost”, “level of market failure” and “level of outcome reciprocity”. In other words, different mechanisms should be adopted in different contexts of transactions to achieve group synergy. 2. The increase of the level of “goal alignment” is conducive to “transfer-pricing” and “market mechanism (market price)” “Goal alignment” plays an important role in a business group, especially when the profits of subsidiaries may be scarified and one subsidiary may cross-subsidize others. The increase of the level of “goal alignment” is conducive to “transfer-pricing” and “market mechanism (market price)”. In other words, synergy in a business group results from “goal alignment”, and “goal alignment” decreases the transaction cost between subsidiaries. 3. The combination of three mechanisms with different level “Goal alignment” has mediating effect for “transfer-pricing” and “market mechanism (market price)”. If headquarters depends on high level of “transfer-pricing”, then the level of “goal alignment” is low. If headquarters depends on low level of “transfer-pricing”, then the level of “goal alignment” is high. If headquarters depends on “market mechanism (market price)”, then the level of “goal alignment” is low.

The main aim of this study is to analyze how secular organizations deal with religion in international development work, both officially and practically, and how they describe the meeting between the secular ideology and the religious context. To answer these questions we have interviewed seven employees of different secular organizations who are well familiar with the organization’s operational as well as strategic work. The study also examines the official documents of each organization. The result show that none of the organizations has any policies about religion and that there is no active dialogue about how to deal with religion within the organizations. The results also show that religion is described as a tool and a resource for change rather than is implemented in the development work. Further, the dialogue around religion is often translated into secular terms. In order to problematize and to analyze the results, the study has mainly been inspired by theories of postcolonialism, secularism, path dependency and historical institutionalism which all together highlight the issue of secularism, religion and development. / Syftet med studien har varit att kritiskt analysera hur sekulära organisationer förhåller sig till religionsfrågor i utvecklingssamarbete i religiösa kontexter. Våra frågeställningar berör hur organisationerna förhåller sig officiellt till religionsfrågor i utvecklingssamarbetet, hur de förhåller sig till dessa frågor i praktiken samt hur organisationerna beskriver mötet mellan den sekulära ideologin och den religiösa kontexten. För att ta reda på detta har vi utfört sju kvalitativa intervjuer med anställda inom sekulära organisationer som är väl insatta i organisationernas strategiska och operationella arbete samt i deras ideologiska grunder. Vi har även studerat organisationernas officiella dokument. Studiens resultat visar att samtliga organisationer saknar riktlinjer kring religion, att det inte förs någon aktiv dialog kring religionsfrågor inom organisationerna samt att organisationerna till stor del förhåller sig till religionsfrågor genom att bekräfta och respektera dess förekomst i arbetet. Det framkommer även att religiösa ledare ses som en tillgång och att religion ses som ett verktyg när det kommer till att förankra arbetet. Resultatet visar vidare på att organisationerna delvis förhåller sig till frågorna genom att beskriva dem i mer sekulära termer och pratar snarare om exempelvis mänskliga rättigheter och demokrati än om religion i arbetet i de religiösa kontexterna. I analysen av det insamlade materialet har vi utgått från teorier om sekularisering, postsekularisering, stigberoende, historisk institutionalism samt postkolonialism och även tidigare forskning inom det aktuella området, vilka på olika sätt belyser området kring sekularitet, religion och utveckling.

Video games have become a new platform for social interaction. I review the sociality of video games and the relationship between virtual- and real-world behaviors. I review and address the pros and cons of methods of measuring social behavior. Finally, I present two studies drawn from internet populations. In Study 1 (N = 250), I develop a scale, The Sociality in Multiplayer Online Games Scale (SMOG), which measures the frequency of social gaming behaviors in team-based, multiplayer online games. I hypothesized these to align on dominance and affiliation dimensions of social interaction (Kiesler, 1982). In Study 2 (N = 104), I conduct a confirmatory factor analysis, which supports a two-factor structure—Destructive and Constructive social behavior, resulting in the SMOG-6. I examine construct validity using measures of dominance and affiliation. Controlling for age, gender, and frequency of game-play, both factors predict dominance. SMOG-Destructive negatively, and SMOG-Constructive positively, predicted affiliation.

Background: Previous research has shown that sexual minority individuals (SM) are twice as likely to smoke, twice as likely to be overweight or obese, and less likely to be physically active than heterosexual persons; all of which place SMs at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). While information on CVD risk by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status is well documented, there is scant literature examining race, gender, and the potential CVD risk in SMs. The purpose of this study was to examine CVD risk in sexual minorities. Method: The current study used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). The Framingham multiple-risk assessment, which uses a calculation of age, smoking, BMI, and blood pressure, was used to predict vascular age and the risk of experiencing CVD event in the next 10 years. 54% of the sample was male, 62% white, and 4% identified as a SM. The sample was split into three groups: 1) 100% heterosexual (N=4363); 2) mostly heterosexual (N=509); and 3) SM (N=188). Results: There was a trend towards significance, p = .056, for mean differences in vascular age/actual age, for SM participants (M=10.07), compared to 100% heterosexual (M=9.1) and mostly heterosexual (M=8.66) participants. Mostly heterosexual participants were 1.62 times more likely, and SM participants were 1.97 times more likely to be current smokers when compared to 100% heterosexual participants. SM participants endorsed having significantly more drinks (M = 4.50) when compared to both 100% heterosexual (M = 3.80) and mostly heterosexual (M = 3.38) participants. SM participants were 1.7 times more likely to endorse having 5 or more drinks on one occasion. SM participants also reported significantly higher stress levels than the other two groups Conclusion: While the data for the current study did not provide sufficient evidence to suggest sexual orientation differences in Framingham risk scores, the findings remain noteworthy. SM showed increased risk in smoking and stress levels. Additionally, the Population-based longitudinal studies and surveillance data are essential and necessary in order to minimize disparities in risk factors and to reduce the likelihood of subsequent disease in SM population.

This thesis is dealing with Villanovan and Etruscan fibulae, their typology, chronology and location within the tombs of necropolises of Veii. The aim of this thesis is to point to the occurance of fibulae in different time horizonts, to show their development and to compare the necropolises of Veii with other specific locations in Italy. The thesis focuses on evaluation of development and relations of the components of funerary equipments, localy and outside the area of Veii as well. Based on the data collected it is possible to point out the similarities of the necropolises of Veii and to compare them with more distant locations in Italy. Key words: Veii, necropolis, fibulae, typology of fibulae, manufacture, funerary contexts, relations with paralel locations.

L'éducation au développement durable (EDD) a été progressivement intégrée dans les systèmes scolaires français et québécois, ce qui a des conséquences pour les enseignants et leur formation. Cette recherche vise à repérer la manière dont les futurs enseignants québécois de sciences et technologie et d'univers social d'une part et les futurs enseignants français de SVT et d'histoire-géographie d'autre part se représentent le développement durable (DD) et l'EDD. Pour ce faire une approche pluri-méthodologique associant le questionnaire et l'entretien semi-directif est employée. Le cadre théorique, - construit autour des concepts de représentations sociales (RS) et de questions socialement vives -, ainsi qu'une posture interprétative-critique, orientent la lecture et l'interprétation des résultats. L'étude met en lumière une RS du DD qui serait emboitée dans celle de l'environnement-ressource chez les quatre sous-populations interrogées ainsi que des spécificités socioculturelles et/ou professionnelles-disciplinaires, se manifestant notamment par l'intégration des dimensions sociales, politiques et institutionnelles. Au vu de l'ensemble des données recueillies, on retient chez les futurs enseignants interrogés quatre champs de tensions qui reflètent la coexistence de deux approches de l'EDD : l'une transmissive et l'autre socioconstructiviste transformatrice. Cette recherche apporte ainsi un éclairage approfondi et renouvelé quant aux appuis et obstacles à l'institutionnalisation d'une EDD critique et comporte finalement des propositions d'intervention didactique en matière de formation des enseignants susceptibles d'enrichir leurs représentations du DD. / Education for sustainable development (ESD) has been gradually integrated into the school systems of France and Quebec. This has consequences for both teachers and teacher training. This research aims to identify how future Quebecois teachers of science and technology and social studies, on the one hand, and future French teachers of the life and earth sciences and history and geography, on the other hand, represent sustainable development and ESD. To this end, a multi-methodological approach was used that draws on two complementary tools, a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. A theoretical framework built around the concepts of social representations (SR) and socially acute questions together with a critical-interpretative posture guide the reading and interpretation of the results. The study brings to light a social representation of SD that is nested in the SR of the environment-resources among the four sub-populations surveyed as well as socio-cultural and/or professional-disciplinary specificities, which are manifested in particular by the integration of social, political and institutional dimensions. Based on the data collected, four areas of tension were identified among the future teachers interviewed; these reflect the existence of two approaches to ESD: one transmissive, and the other transformative and social constructivist. This study thus provides an in-depth, up-to-date clarification of the factors that support or hinder the institutionalization of a critical ESD. Finally, it includes proposals for educational intervention in teacher training so as to enrich future teachers' representations of SD.

A Troy Town is a labyrinth either built of stones or made of turf. They can be found in northern Europe, especially in Scandinavia. The number of Troy Towns in Sweden is outstanding. They are around 400. Most of them are situated on the coast but there are still approximatly 80 inland about 20 of which are located on ancient burial grounds from both bronze and iron age. The Troy Towns in Sweden are mostly marked with round circles of stones, the size of human skulls, and placed directly on the ground. The entrance of a Troy Town is often formed as a cross. There are some turf labyrinths left in Denmark, England and Germany but most of them are overgrown by grass and can no longer be seen. The Troy Towns are hard to date. Away from the coast one can examine their contexts whilst along the coast lichenometry and the sea level may be used to determine the age of them. There are different ways to describe the purpose of them depending on what period they belong to and where they are situated. Researchers do not agree on all the theories and many of them are based on older explanations. Still new theories appear. My purpose apart from describing the Troy Towns is to examine and compare the theories and to evaluate their plausibility. / <p>Uppsatsen ventilerad 2019-05-27</p><p>Uppsatsen godkänd 2019-06-12</p>

Les problématiques de recherche abordées dans cette thèse concernent la conceptualisation, la modélisation et la commande générique des robots mobiles lors de leur évolution en milieux extérieurs et en présence de glissement pour des applications de suivi de précision. Ainsi, ce mémoire synthétise dans un premier temps les développements et résultats obtenus lors du suivi de trajectoire (localisation absolue), puis synthétise ensuite ceux obtenus lors de suivi de structure et de cible (localisation relative). Une dernière partie introduit un concept de plateforme robotique reconfigurable et sa commande associée pour adapter l’assiette et les dimensions du châssis en fonction de la topographie du terrain.Pour chaque application de suivi, ce mémoire présente un panel de lois de commande originales pour des robots différentiels, à un train et à deux trains directeurs. Chaque modalité de commande est présentée en quatre étapes : modélisation, estimation, commande et expérimentations. La première contribution majeure de la thèse concerne l’estimation du glissement. Cette dernière est adaptative et basée modèle. Elle intègre la modélisation cinématique étendue seule ou couplée à la modélisation dynamique du robot mobile pour assurer une estimation intègre quels que soient la vitesse, les phénomènes dynamiques rencontrés et la nature du sol. La seconde contribution majeure concerne le développement d’une stratégie de commande générique pour les robots mobiles. Cette stratégie est basée sur le principe de la commande en cascade (ou par backstepping) et est déclinée dans ce mémoire à travers un panel de lois de commande. Cette méthodologie de commande, lorsqu’elle est associée à l’observation du glissement précédent, permet d’obtenir des performances de suivi accrues quel que soit le contexte rencontré. L’ensemble des algorithmes ont été validés en simulation et/ou expérimentalement à l’aide de différentes plateformes robotiques en contextes réels. / This work is focused on the conceptualization, the modeling and the genericcontrol of mobile robots when moving in off-road contexts and facing slipperyterrains, especially for very accurate tracking and following applications. Thisthesis summarizes the proposed methods and the obtained results to addressthis research issue, first for path following applications (absolute localization)and then for edge and target tracking applications (relative localization). A finalsection of this thesis introduces an adaptive robotic concept and its associatedcontroller allowing the adaptation of the pose (position and orientation) of thechassis with respect to the environment topography.For each application, this thesis introduces a panel of innovative control algorithmsfor controlling skid-steering, two-wheel steering and four-wheel steeringmobile robots. Each algorithm of the panel is described, in this thesis, infour steps : modeling, estimation, control and experiments.The first main contribution of this thesis deals with the slippage estimation.The latter is adaptive and model-based. It also includes the extended kinematicmodeling only or together with the dynamic modeling of the mobile robot toensure a robust estimation of the slippage whatever the speed of the robot, encountereddynamic phenomena or even ground characteristics.The second main contribution deals with the design of a generic control approachfor mobile robots when path following and target tracking. The proposedstrategy is mostly based on a backstepping method and is illustrated inthis thesis via a panel of control laws. When combining this proposed controlapproach with the slippage estimation described above, significant improvedtracking and following performances are obtained (in term of stability, repeatability,accuracy and robustness) whatever the encountered context.All algorithms have been tested and validated through simulations and/orfull-scale experiments, indoor and off-road, with different mobile robots.

Resumo: Aprender e ensinar são processos de co-construção de conhecimentos que acontecem na e a partir da interação, cujas modalidades e espaços de realização têm se ampliado com o incremento das tecnologias de informação e comunicação. Corroborando que a avaliação é um elemento integrador entre o ensino e a aprendizagem e acreditando no impacto positivo que a avaliação pode desempenhar quando praticada sob esta ótica, neste estudo investigou-se o potencial da avaliação em um processo de aprendizagem dupla, o aprender língua estrangeira (LE) e o aprender a ensinar Português para Falantes de Outras Línguas (PFOL) em um contexto online de aprendizagem de línguas, o teletandem. De natureza qualitativa, este estudo teve como objetivos investigar características do texto falado e da avaliação de desempenho oral em contexto online de aprendizagem de línguas em tandem. As informações foram coletadas no escopo do Projeto Teletandem Brasil: línguas estrangeiras para todos (TTB) por meio de: roteiro de conversa; gravações em áudio e/ou vídeo de sessões de teletandem; questionários; fichas de acompanhamento de teletandem e notas de campo da pesquisadora. A análise e a discussão dos dados foram conduzidas de acordo com o conteúdo e orientações da análise da conversação, à luz do referencial teórico que incluiu discussões acerca das áreas de Português para Falantes de Outras Línguas; de Avaliação; de Educação a Distância e do Português falado no Brasil. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que a troca linguístico-cultural caracteriza a conversa(ção) no teletandem, apontando para a importância do feedback do parceiro no preenchimento de lacunas de forma e de conteúdo, além da necessidade de apoio e/ou monitoramento constante da fala do interlocutor. As características do texto falado apontadas por este estudo revelam a importância de refletir sobre... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Based on the principle that assessment integrates learning and teaching, in this thesis the potentiality of assessment was investigated in a twofold learning process, that is, learning a foreign language (FL) and learning to be a teacher of Portuguese to Speakers of Other Languages (PSOL). As a qualitative research, this study aimed at investigating features of both spoken language and oral proficiency assessment in an online FL learning context, which is constituted by teletandem interactions. The information was collected in the scope of the Teletandem Brazil project (TTB) by means of interviews, audio and video recordings of teletandem conversation, questionnaires, teletandem tracking sheets and field notes. The data were categorized according to the contents revealed in each type of research instrument and analyzed with the support of a theoretical framework that includes discussions on the PSOL, Assessment, Distance Education and Portuguese spoken in Brazil. The results show that the teletandem conversation is a linguistic and cultural interchange between Brazilian and foreigner partners powered by the feedback provided. The partners‟ intervention to help each order in relation to linguistic and cultural aspects during the conversation is essential to contextualize and keep the progress of interaction, as well as to provide the support required in order to acknowledge and give attention to the interlocutor‟s speech. Taking into account the features of the spoken language in online conversation, the natural speech flow present in language proficiency assessment scales is discussed, mainly related to criteria such as oral comprehension, fluency and interactional competence. As part of the TTB activities, the teletandem tracking sheet showed to be a powerful assessment instrument to promote collaborative learning. The strength of this kind of learning and evaluation trigger... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Douglas Altamiro Consolo / Coorientador: Maria João Gomes / Banca: Matilde Virgínia Ricardi Scaramucci / Banca: Maria Helena Vieira Abrahão / Banca: Nelson Viana / Banca: João Antonio Telles / Doutor